Independent businesses coming together to highlight their contribution to the great British high street and Chesterfield is taking part.
To demonstrate the importance of supporting our high streets, Chesterfield is joining with over 100 Independent High Streets across the UK, to put on special £5 offers across two weeks in October, in the TOTALLY LOCALLY FIVER FEST.
Independent shops and businesses make our town special and unique. Businesses appreciate it when we support them, and these offers are to say thank you for that support, showing just what great value local businesses are.”
FIVER FEST is a free to join campaign, devised and run by Totally Locally, a grass roots High Street organisation that has been helping businesses and High Streets to help themselves since 2010 with incredible results.
This Fiver Fest, Totally Locally is calling on consumers to divert £5 of their weekly spend to support the small businesses in their communities.
Fiver Fest is based around the Totally Locally £5 message:
“If every adult in Chesterfield spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops and businesses, it would mean £20.4 million per year going directly into our local economy. Which can lead to more jobs, a better high street, a stronger economy & a nicer place to live. Makes you think doesn’t it?!”
Spending just £5 a week with a local independent makes a big difference to our High Street, and “Fiver Fest” promotes this message.
In 2019, 43 towns joined in and the result was phenomenal with reports of new customers, people rediscovering shops they hadn’t been into for years, and huge sales of £5 offers. Over the two consecutive Fiver Fests, the number of towns taking part has now reached over 100.
Fiver Fest Offers are often imaginative and varied; £5 massages, £5 local meat packs, £5 best-selling book offers, £5 lunch deals and even axe-throwing for a fiver!
“We know Fiver Fest isn’t going to change the world”, said Chris Sands of Totally Locally, “But small changes in spending habits can really make a difference to our high streets. By diverting £5 of our weekly spend to local independents we give them a fighting chance to thrive. It’s an action worth taking!”.
YouGov research has shown that 59% of shoppers have used more local shops to support them during lockdown, so let's continue that support.
At the time of going to print, many people were still thinking about their Fiver Fest offers but those I do know of are shown opposite. Please look out for Fiver Fest posters between the 10th and 24th October.
Even if you don't see a poster, you can still show your support by trying out a new independent business and spending a fiver (or more) with them.
Happy shopping.
Words: Paul Chapman
Images: Totallylocally
Call for Help!
In Chesterfield we've been talking about Totally Locally now for a while... and it's been a slow build, as no-one seems to have any time or energy to really drive it! If you are local, looking for a voluntary role, know about social media and are not connected to the council - a recommendation from Totally Locally towns that have been successful, please get in touch. I'd love to speak to you about how, together, we can make this bigger and better!