Bath Business Improvement District (BID) is using Independent Retailer Month (July) as a launch point to help the city’s independents promote themselves.
Louise Prynne, Chief Executive of Bath BID explained: “Independent retailers are hugely important to Bath. Their variety and individuality is central to ensuring Bath remains an attractive, interesting and vibrant shopping, leisure and business destination.
“It’s also been proven that more money spent through independents stays in the area, so their importance to the city cannot be overstated.
“Following liaison with independent retailers across the city, the Bath BID identified a clear need to help independents with a range of promotions and initiatives.
“We have also prepared a toolkit that includes downloadable marketing material on the BID website, while Angela MacAusland from the Federation of Small Businesses came up with the great idea that all indies should display red, white and blue balloons outside their premises to draw attention to themselves during Independent Retailer Month.”
Angela MacAusland added: “The FSB is fully behind this BID-led initiative and delighted that it is open to the small independents who are below the threshold for paying the BID levy.
“It shows a holistic understanding of the importance of all business sectors and sizes to the success of Bath’s retail and leisure community. We encourage all independents to get involved.”
“This is all about inspiring collaborative thinking,” continued Louise Prynne. “We are engaging with independents through volunteer businesses representing key areas of the city, and underwriting initiatives to make it easy for them to promote themselves.
“The response and enthusiasm so far shown by independents has been very positive. I hope Independent Retailer Month will be the start of a more strategic approach going forward.”