In the run up to Valentine’s Day next month, shoppers in the UK’s town and cities are being urged to vote for their most loved local businesses to celebrate Love Local Day.
Now in its fifth year, #LoveLocalDay, an initiative led by local shopping platform, ShopAppy.com, comes at a time when many small independent high street businesses are under immense pressure due to soaring inflation and energy bills, and reduced consumer spend.
Last year was ShopAppy’s most successful Love Local Day campaign yet with thousands of nominations from people in over 100 towns and cities around the UK.
People wishing to nominate a local independent business should visit the ShopAppy Love Local Day campaign page. Voting this year closes on 14th February and the winners will be announced on 20 February. The UK’s Top 20 most loved businesses will receive an award and a special thank-you gift while voters will be entered into ShopAppy’s free prize draw to win £50 to spend on ShopAppy’s local websites.
Dr Jackie Mulligan, expert on the Government’s High Streets Task Force and founder of the local shopping platform, ShopAppy, commented: “Love Local Day is about shopping with the heart and celebrating the local businesses you know and love, who need you more than ever right now. The latest retail sales data published on Friday showed December was dire for many retailers so we all need to get behind them as much as we can in 2023.
“We estimate that at least a third of the retailers on the high street will be relying on Valentine's Day spending sprees to help them address the losses from Christmas, in particular hospitality, beauty, fashion and gift businesses. Just nominate your favourite local business before 14th February to help them make our Top 20 and put a huge smile on their face.”
