Shop local this Christmas!

Give the gift of support to independent businesses

Shop, eat, visit and be merry with independent businesses this festive season. As well as discovering unique places, local produce and special gifts, you’ll be helping to support jobs, communities and the environment.

Whether you’re hitting your high street or enjoying a festive occasion, there’s a whole world of local businesses to uncover near you. You’ll get the double satisfaction of a great experience along with the knowledge you’re helping a local community get back on its feet.

For ideas, resources and tips for supporting independent businesses, visit Love Local.

Eight reasons to Love Local

Supporting local businesses comes with many benefits, both for the consumer and the business. These eight reasons form the backbone of the campaign and can help support local businesses.

• Be spoilt for choice with unique products, Essex is many things and many places. It’s complicated, surprising, eccentric – there’s no single way to describe who we are. Locally made items and locally grown food can go a long way to capture what makes Essex unique and inspire pride in our people and our county.

• Enjoy a better shopping experience. The strength of Essex is its people. We’re home to many tight-knit communities and small businesses are at the heart of that. It shines through in their customer service: there’s nothing like buying from a friendly face.

• Find great deals. Many local retailers, hospitality venues and attractions are offering rewards for regular customers and discounts that can’t be found in major outlets and chain restaurants. They want to attract people to their shops and venues so now’s the time to find a great deal from a local business near you.

• Help businesses get back on their feet. Local businesses are the backbone of the Essex economy. We have hundreds of SMEs – more than we have in any other sector. They’ve suffered from the pandemic and need help getting back on their feet. By shopping locally, we can support the entrepreneurial businesses around Essex.

• Grow the local economy. You don’t just help one business when you shop or spend locally – you support the growth of the local economy. Your money goes directly to the shop owners, employees and suppliers, who spend their money locally as well. Research has shown that every £10 spent locally generates around £25 for the local economy. The money circulates through the area and helps everyone in the community thrive.

• Save jobs and create more for local people. Spending money with local businesses has a positive effect on job creation. What’s more, they are more likely to pay a higher average wage than their commercial chain counterparts.

• Build a vibrant place to visit and live. Supporting businesses in your area is key to creating a thriving community and a successful high street. Local businesses tend to reinvest your spending to keep improving the experience they offer. This draws more people, and the cycle continues – the better their offering, the more customers they get, and the more they can improve. This commitment from both customers and business owners is what makes an area an attractive place to live and visit.

• Do your bit for the environment. Local shops tend to source their goods locally, which means they don’t have the carbon footprint of larger chain stores. You can reduce packaging and enjoy fresh produce that hasn’t travelled halfway around the world to get to you. Plus, shopping locally often means you can reduce your car use and walk or cycle more.