Support For Local Businesses

Totally Locally 

Nurturing Local Prosperity in Thanet: Advocating Shop Local Initiatives

At the core of our mission lies unwavering dedication to bolstering the vitality of local enterprises in Thanet. Within this realm of dynamic initiatives, we wholeheartedly champion the impactful Totally Locally movement and support their national Campaigns

Totally Locally is far more than just a shop local campaign, originating in Hebden Bridge in the North of England, it has blossomed into a global movement. Empowered by volunteers in towns and villages across 6 countries these catalysts leverage the meticulously curated ‘Town Kit’ marketing toolkit, strategically following guidelines, templates, and an all-encompassing event strategy. 

Within the Total Locally Town Kit lie a myriad of resources. From captivating posters and engaging newsletters to inventive bag designs, bold banners, expressive stickers, badges, and more. Comprehensive guidance directs those volunteers in how to run meetings, planning events, and even tailor press releases to echo your town’s distinct essence. A methodical timeline ensures the campaign’s seamless execution.

To get involved in the campaign in you town contact your Totally Locally Town Champion:

• Ramsgate – Rebekah Smith – town.promoter@ramsgatetc.org.uk
• Ramsgate – Adam Jemmett – boardathomegaming@hotmail.com
• Margate – Steven Mckenna – thebaymargate@btinternet.com
• Broadstairs – Chris Jones – contact@sweetyesterdays.co.uk
• Westgate – Sarah Gibbon – westgategalleria@gmail.com
• Birchington – Lorrain Powderham – birchingtonframing@gmail.com

And then there’s Fiver Fest – a nationwide sensation, Fiver Fest unites 100’s of towns and countless businesses throughout the UK. Thanet’s businesses have personally witnessed the impact, heightened profiles, increased sales, and fresh customers through the doors due to Fiver Fest participation over recent years.

This year, Totally Locally once again pioneers innovation. Brace yourselves for the inaugural National Magic Tenner event in the UK, scheduled from October 7th to 21st, 2023. This concept illuminates that £10 spent in a local shop triggers an astonishing £50 within the local economy – a ripple effect enriching the entire community.

Find out more about Totally Locally here:www.totallylocally.org. 

Or contact our Business Engagement Officer Sharon Davies on 01843 577511 or email  highstreets@thanet.gov.uk

Last Christmas, we wanted to encourage everyone to shop and eat local! Through the Welcome Back Fund, the council ran a dedicated campaign to raise awareness of the benefits that shopping on the high street can have on the local economy and to encourage more people to use the district’s local high streets throughout the festive season.

The campaign also aimed to give local businesses the opportunity to raise their profiles amongst local residents, which will play a key part in increasing footfall.  

All campaign activities were recognisable as they featured a festive illustration – an adaptation of the popular Respect, Protect, Enjoy logo which was created for the council’s summer awareness campaign in 2021. Residents saw the festive design on posters, buses and on social media in the run up to Christmas.

Why is it important to shop local?

ix reasons why we should support our local highstreets:

– There are a wealth of independent shops and eateries on your doorstep that need your support more than ever.

– Boost your town or village economy and help keep the stores open to thrive. For every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business, 63p stays in the local economy, compared to 40p with a larger business.

– A wide variety of independent shops and eateries enable you to find unique and creative gifts that stand out from the crowd.

– Inviting and characterful eateries offer a great culinary experience not too far from home.

– Reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment by not travelling out of town to shop.

– A more enjoyable shopping experience avoiding the crowds, traffic and delivery dramas.

Thanet’s first Shop Local Advent Calendar

As part of the Shop and Eat Local at Christmas campaign, an exclusive offer from a local Thanet business was revealed daily in the run up to Christmas 2021 in Thanet’s first Shop Local Advent Calendar. Residents could unlock offers via thanet.gov.uk/advent-calendar. 

Local businesses were invited to be featured.

Festive window competition 

An Instagram poll featured a weekly public vote on the best festive shop window displays across Thanet.  @OfficialThanetCouncil 

The winning businesses were named ‘Local Business of the Week’ on community radio station Academy FM.

Thanet’s Festive Business Directory

There are hundreds of fantastic shops and eateries on high streets across Thanet. To help people find them, we created a visual directory of all businesses on our database.

View Thanet’s Festive Business Directory. 2021

Shops and eateries were grouped according to their town in Thanet, and also what they offer customers.

FREE Shop & Eat Local this Christmas posters for businesses

To enhance the campaign a range of branded printable posters were made available to businesses, for local shop windows and noticeboards.

DOWNLOAD POSTERS

Businesses could select as many pages of the document to print according to their needs. Options in the document included:

• ‘Our Festive Offer’
• ‘Thank you for supporting your local highstreet this Christmas’
• ‘Buy everything you need this Christmas, all within walking distance’
• ‘Discover an artist, maker or creator from your town this Christmas…shop local, feel good!’
• ‘Buy gifts made by people in your area & support small businesses’
• ’63p of every £1 spent in a local business stays in the local economy’
• We have also added an updated range of posters, reminding people that face coverings are now mandatory in shops: DOWNLOAD ‘WEAR A MASK’ POSTER

Placing these posters in shop windows helped to reinforce the wider signage and advertising which was seen across our towns, on buses and on the radio for this campaign.

FREE Saturday parking

The council offers free parking at the following car parks in the district every Saturday. More information.

• Mill Lane Car Park – Margate
• Harold Road Car Park – Cliftonville
• St Peter’s Park Road Car Park – Broadstairs
• Cannon Road Car Park – Ramsgate