With online becoming increasingly important for bricks and mortar retailers, a new initiative, Click It Local – an online platform designed solely for independent businesses – is giving retailers a further opportunity to reach out to customers.
A recently launched Essex scheme is being rolled out in partnership with Essex District Councils, with Allison Gray, owner of gift and fashion lifestyle store Fox & Willow in Maldon, Essex, among the latest gift shops to join the Click It Local initiative.
“We’ve only just joined, so it’s early days, but we’ve had a couple of orders already so our fingers are crossed,” Allison told GiftsandHome.net.
She added: “It’s a challenging time for retailers, but I really do believe that with so many major retailers having closed their doors, it’s time for the high street to shine. As a retailer, it’s what you make of it.”
Also part of Essex Click It Local scheme is Kaye Thurgood, owner of award winning Sincerely Yours, who has two stores, one in Hornchurch and the other in Shenfield. The Shenfield shop was recently featured on BBC News, with the cameras panning in on products packed up and ready to be sent out to customers. “Click It Local gives us another way of accessing our customers,” Kaye told BBC News.
Two other Essex gift retailers who are supporting the initiative include Abigail’s Lifestyle in Ingatestone and The Olive Branch in Hutton.
The scheme will be rolled out across multiple towns and villages in Essex over the next few weeks to include Brentford, Epping Forest, Colchester, Chelmsford, Braintree, Uttlesford, Malden and Tendring.
“Click It Local is a virtual high street that enables residents to buy from any independent shop and have it delivered straight to their door on the same day,” comments founder Steve Koch. “Our mission is to help save high streets and independent stores across the UK by making shopping local easier and faster.”
Click it Local has already successfully launched in Cambridgeshire, Brighton, parts of Essex and London and is now looking to extend to further towns and villages across the UK in a bid to support local and independent business.
Visit hello@clickitlocal.co.uk
Top: Willow & Fox’s owner Allison Gray is shown outside her gift store in Maldon, Essex.
