With support for the high street uppermost in everyone’s minds, particularly in the run up to Christmas, Jack Parker and Dominique Miranda, directors of Lanther Black card company, recently went all out to support independent retailers, with gift shops very much a part of the initiative.
The talented couple turned their creative skills to make a short film which makes a strong point about the importance of shopping in bricks and mortar shops through a multi-versed engaging poem written by them. Eight of the publisher’s independent retailers from around the UK were invited to star in the filmtoo, reading a verse of the well-crafted poem.
They were: Fiona Hannafin of Inspitalfields, London; Georgina Collins of Bijouled; Mark and Rose Thorley of The Eleventh Hour Gift Shop, Audlem; Catherine Lockerbie of The Gift Shop, Dumfries; Tony Dangerfield of The Waverley, West Kirby; Harrogate; Mary Singleton-Jones of Panda Cards, St. Albans; Barbara Scott of Hermitage Rd & Co, Hitchin and Tim & Annie Gould of Objectables, Folkestone.
“We were inspired by the activity of the Just a Card campaign and felt compelled to put our film-making skills to good use to encourage people to support their local retailers,” explained Jack, who has been making films since he was a child.
The film starts with a scene of Dominique looking through the window of an empty shop unit. “You may have noticed something strange each time you go to town. That one by one your high street shops are slowly closing down,” before handing the mantle to the retailers to champion the advantages and importance of bricks and mortar shopping.
Fiona Hannafin of gift shop Inspitalfields makes the point: “Online shopping’s great and no one’s saying that should stop. But every now and then, why not pop into a shop?”
Jack then delivers the poignant closing lines: “If we don’t support our high street it won’t be around for long and one thing’s for sure, we’ll miss it when it’s gone.”
See https://www.facebook.com/lantherblack/videos/436120247268726/?vh=e&d=n
The couple really hope that the film will not only make consumers think about where they shop, but also encourage local councils to support retailers in their vicinity.
Adds Dominique: “We’re on Facebook and already the film has gained a lot of likes. We will also be sending it to the councils in the areas where the retailers involved are based as well as to other relevant organisations.”
Top: Lanther Black’s Jack Parker and Dominique Miranda (right) with Barbara Scott of Hermitage Road & Co, Hitchin who appears in the film.
