28/05/12……Retailers to celebrate Independents? Day on Independence Day
LOCAL independent shops throughout South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse will be flying the flag this July in a show of support for diversity on the high street.
On 4 July 2012, people across the country will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local independent shop to celebrate Independents? Day 2012, and retailers across Southern Oxfordshire?s seven towns will be playing their part.
?Independents? Day?, a national campaign organised by Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail, champions the local retailers who make the UK?s villages, towns and cities so special.
To raise awareness of the campaign, independent retailers will be displaying the Independents? Day logo in their shop windows. Residents and visitors will also be encouraged to share and celebrate what they bought at independent retailers on the 4th July by tweeting a photograph of their purchase and where they bought it from, followed by #southernoxonindependents. A prize will be given to the person who tweets the best photo.
Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Property and Technical Services at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?South Oxfordshire has a vast number of independent retailers to be proud of. Our residents really value the contribution our local retailers make to life in the district and I?m sure will give them their full support on 4th July.?
With more than 160,000 independent retailers making up 92 per cent of all retail businesses in the UK, their importance to local economies, as well as their contribution to a location?s identity and community, is unrivaled.
Jane Rexworthy, Head of the National Skills Academy for Retail said: Independents Day aims to highlight the huge range of skills successful independent retailers need to make our towns and cities such interesting and varied places to visit and shop. We offer a wide range of support directly to retailers to help them get ahead. It?s essential independent retailers understand that to compete today they have to have the best people as well as products, and that training and development can really make a difference.?
To stay up to date with all the activities, you can follow the campaign on Twitter @Retail_IndieDay, facebook.com/independentsday or on the news section of www.retailindieday.com
