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Shoppers in Leicester are celebrating local businesses with a new campaign.
Shoppers in Leicester are looking to independent retailers to entice them to mark the I Love Local Shops campaign. The Leicester Mercury is focusing on boutiques and independent shops at present, especially concentrating on a cluster of shops named St Martin's Square, which prides itself as being a tranquil oasis away from the hustle and bustle of city shoppers. With quirky items, personalised gift bags and plenty of kitsch cafes, the unique and friendly area has been expanding recently, with new and exciting shops filling most of the units. Boutique clothing and jewellery shop Watch.This.Space moved on to the site three months ago and has since stocked up the shop with a diverse mix of one-off handmade items. Owner Steph Macdonald-Walker told the newspaper that consumers found the independent area a refreshing change from the hectic high street. "When people buy from independents like me, not only are they getting something unique and unusual, they are supporting the future of British design," she said. Ms Macdonald-Walker went on to say: "Here they are buying pieces made by fashion graduates and local designers, and getting something they won't see others wearing." Indie shop lovers flock to the area to get a taste of something different, with student Emily Penrose also telling the paper that she prefers the experience. "I tend to find more individual things in St Martin's Square and I often find myself thinking I've never seen anything like that before," she admitted. To further encourage shopping in indie stores, in the six weeks running up to Christmas a new campaign is being run, entitled Celebrate an Independent Christmas. This aims to boost spending in smaller stores, promoting links between retailers and their local community by organising fun events, such as shopping crawls and charity fundraisers. These can increase interaction between independent shops and customers, while also spreading awareness. |
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