Businesses from across Glasgow have issued a united call to residents: “Choose local to forge a stronger future for our city”.
They were supported by the Scottish Government’s Minister for Business and the Leader of Glasgow City Council in highlighting the multi-million pound difference that can be made to lives and livelihoods by spending more with local businesses.
Representatives from the city’s four Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) united at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to make the call to action as part of Scotland Loves Local Week (June 13-20).
Seven days of action – Flying The Flag For Local Businesses – is being held across the country to celebrate local enterprise, the transformational impact it has on people, communities and the need to support it.
Jonny McDonald, of Brooklyn Cafe and Chair of My Shawlands BID, said: “Shopping locally ensures a future for everyone.
“It supports businesses, it supports staff. We employ 25 people and, as a small family-run cafe, we would have half of that without people choosing local.
“It keeps the community vibrant, with businesses working together to support each other. Communities with empty shop units aren’t as attractive for people to live in, which affects everyone.”
Scotland Loves Local – the drive for people to create better places by supporting local businesses – is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) and supported by the Scottish Government.
Minister for Business Tom Arthur said: “By choosing to spend locally we are keeping businesses at the heart of communities, supporting jobs, generating wealth and helping our town and city centres to thrive.
“Initiatives such as the Scotland Loves Local campaign, alongside Scotland’s network of Business Improvement Districts, are playing a key role in building stronger, more resilient and prosperous communities across Scotland.”
One of the ways in which money has been locked into the city’s economy is through local gift cards – including the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card, supported by the city council.
Gift card provider Miconex says the Glasgow gift card has directly driven almost £9.4m into the city’s economy, as well as encouraging more people to support businesses with a bricks and mortar presence.
Councillor Susan Aitken, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “Local businesses are the lifeblood of Glasgow’s neighbourhoods and why so many of the city’s local town centres are bustling hives of activity; great places to visit, to shop, to eat and to socialise.
“Glaswegians have a real pride in their communities and want to see more of that success. By choosing local they can make a big impact, helping retain jobs in our communities and our high streets flourishing.
“We’ve seen how the Love Local cards have contributed to the buzz around the city’s neighbourhoods and I’m sure the Flying The Flag campaign can have a similar impact.”
BIDs across Glasgow support local businesses by championing the enterprises and assets in their area, helping to create reasons to visit and support local businesses as well as unlocking other positive change.
John Turner is chair of Visit West End – the BID for Byres Road and Lanes – and owner of Janet & John, a gift shop in DeCourcy’s Arcade on Cresswell Lane.
He said: “The modern local high street needs to present a varied mix of unique independent businesses, as well as high street chains, to attract custom from both near and far.
“I may be biased but I believe that Byres Road and the Lanes has that in spades, which is why it continues to be so successful.
“But the message is ‘use it or lose it’. Without the support of local custom in particular – and also the positive backing of both local and national government – there is the risk that high streets will fall into decline.
“So make the positive choice and choose to Love Local.”
The Lets Go Glasgow BID came into being following a ballot of city centre businesses last year and began operating on April 1.
Its Chair, Kyron Keogh, said: “Glasgow city centre is the beating heart of the city. When it’s thriving, it benefits the whole Glasgow City Region.
“There’s a clear determination across businesses to grasp every opportunity to support and promote the city centre. What makes Glasgow unique is that mix of home grown businesses alongside global brands, creating a destination you simply can’t replicate anywhere else.
“Through Let’s Go Glasgow BID, we’re building on that shared ambition to strengthen the city centre’s role as a vibrant, welcoming hub and to showcase Glasgow at its very best.”
For Possilpark BID, diversity of local businesses is key.
Chair Jim Garrity said: “We are fortunate to have such a diverse range of businesses in our neighbourhood and all of them contribute so much to this community. When we shop local we are supporting these businesses and the people behind them.
“Many of the businesses have served our community for years and others are newer to the area. They are all integral to our daily shopping. So lets fly the flag for our local businesses and help them to thrive”
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, operated by Glasgow Life, is one of the city’s most identifiable and popular attractions. Its visitors often explore all parts of the city, supporting local businesses.
Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) estimated last year that almost £33m more could be secured for Glasgow’s economy annually if everyone in the city spent just £1-a-week extra with local businesses. That figure nationally was nearly £283m.
STP Chief Officer Kimberley Guthrie, who joined the businesses and political leaders for the call to action, said: “Choosing local is all about supporting local people and places. It’s something every one of us can do.
“Every penny spent with a local business is an investment which helps them and your whole community flourish – protecting jobs, creating confidence and adding vibrancy. We have seen through the success of the Scotland Loves Local Glasgow Gift Card the powerful impact that locking more money into the local economy can have.
“It’s fantastic to see the city’s Business Improvement Districts unite to deliver an incredibly strong message about putting local people and enterprises first – and to have that recognised by both the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.”
Scotland Loves Local Week runs until Saturday June 20th.
