15 April 2008, 12:44 PM
  • As support for National Independents' Week (starting 2nd June 08) gathers momentum, chairman and organiser, Alan Toft, is urging the trade to get behind the initiative.

“Trading is always tough in the independent trade, but we have developed a campaign to help raise awareness of the local retailer and increase sales while rewarding consumers for shopping in our stores. It’s time to stop whinging and get on with it.”

Now in its fifth year, Independents’ Day has grown into Independents’ Week and, with just five weeks to go, Mr Toft and his team are quietly confident that the national press advertising and media coverage linked to in-store promotional days will be the biggest yet.

“This year we have the highest ever level of support from suppliers and manufacturers,” he adds. “The MSYS campaign is focussed purely on the positive values to the community provided by independent retailers – values which the multiple giants, as successful as they are, cannot replace,” he says.

“The power of the giants has persuaded much of the media to focus on a negative, doomsday, scenario producing images of the imminent demise of owner-managed convenience stores, newsagents and rural shops. We want to persuade independent retailers to maximise their involvement in the local community as a platform for increased footfall,” he adds.

Two thirds of the wholesale industry and about 45,000 independent retailers were involved in NIW 07 by putting on special events or stocking brands which suppliers and wholesalers promoted for the week. Suppliers and wholesalers supported the week by supplying personnel for store visits. Many suppliers delivered free products and gifts for street parties and fun days organised by independents

• If you want a NIW promotional pack – offering T-shirts, baseball caps, balloons and stickers – you should ring 0161 440 2789. Further information is available at www.myshopisyourshop.co.uk