People behind businesses in Scotland’s reigning town of the year say the nation needs to think local first.
Oban lifted the top town crown in the 2024 Scotland Loves Local Awards after judges heard how townsfolk banded together to reinvent the picturesque Argyllshire community.
And, as part of Scotland Loves Local Week (August 23-30), shops have been highlighting the critical difference that everyone can make by prioritising support for businesses in their home community.
The week’s theme of People Make Places is reflective of Oban’s own achievements, with townsfolks’ determination leading to work to improve the look of the town centre as well as attracting and organising major events, with the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race returning for its 2025-26 season.
Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the organisation behind Scotland Loves Local, this week relieved that an extra £4.5m could be injected into Argyll and Bute’s economy if everyone in the region spent just £1-a-week more with local businesses.
Businesses which are part of the BID4Oban Business Improvement District (BID) have been major drivers of positive change in the town.
They have encouraged support for local enterprises through their Love Oban voucher programme, with the Scotland Loves Local Argyll & Bute Gift Card – promoted heavily by Argyll & Bute Council – also locking money into the local economy.
Dave Bleazard, owner of Outside Edge on Macgregor Court, said: “The gift card’s great. People can use them for presents and it keeps that money local to Oban and the surrounding area.
“It’s so important that people shop locally because these are the businesses which give back to the community, supporting clubs and other benefits.
“We employ local people. Spending locally is way more important than spending money away from the local area. It improves local communities.”
Scotland Loves Local Week – supported by the Scottish Government – has highlighted that behind every shopfront is a neighbour, a friend or family, making local support critical.
STP, which champions the nation’s towns as the heartbeat of wider economic success, says that true sustainability lies in our local communities, and the people who make them – with every pound spent locally an investment in the future and a vote for the people who make places special.
Jackie Kerr, owner of Time & Again boutique, also on Macgregor Court, said: “The Love Oban vouchers are like a local currency, encouraging people to spend locally. They encourage people to spend locally. Even selling them brings people into your store and look around. They keep money in the town.
“If local people don’t support local shops they’re going to close down. We need local shoppers as well as tourists. If we don’t get local people, shops will sadly close.”
STP has calculated that, if every person in Scotland were to spend just £1 more per week with local businesses in their area, an additional £282.7m would be generated annually.
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