Unique local businesses will be at the heart of Hamilton as the town builds a new future.
That was the view shared as enterprises in the town joined forces in a demonstration of support for each other – making a commitment to buy locally whenever they can.
Hamilton Our Town (BID) has signed the Scotland Loves Local Pledge, a promise that it will think local first.
The move comes as a number of new ventures get underway in the town centre and ahead of Scotland Loves Local Week, which begins on Monday (August 26).
It is hoped that Hamilton Our Town’s pledge to choose local is one that people will follow in their home lives – with local support critical to the future of shops, services and attractions throughout the community.
Malcolm Thomas-Harley, manager of Hamilton Our Town, said: “The simple fact is that local businesses of all kinds cannot survive without the support of other local people. We hope that signing the pledge will help emphasise that.
“There can be a lot of doom and gloom about high streets. But rather than dwell on the past, we should be looking to a more positive future because people are investing and moving into our town centre.
“We are working really hard to showcase the area through the likes of our monthly markets, and events, aiming to offer visitors a unique experience in the town that you cannot get online.
“We’re really grateful for the support that these events receive from the local community, evidenced through increased footfall, and we’re looking forward to our 31st August market in support of Scotland Loves Local week.”
Among the newest ventures to launch in the town is Bombay Palace, which has opened in the former Fat Yankees American diner building on Quarry Street.
Tommy Jameel, the man behind the business, which will include regular Bollywood nights, said: “We have found a great location from which to offer authentic Indian cuisine. We’d been looking for a place in Hamilton for a while and are really pleased to have found somewhere. I’m really excited about it.”
Thistle Credit Union is also preparing to open on Quarry Street.
Jim Lannigan, from the organisation, joined BID area businesses for the pledge signing and said: “We are all about community and trying to help look after the community. We are looking forward to opening in a building which had been empty for some time.”
Mario Zatkovsky, who has been in business in Hamilton since 2016, recently opened Get the Gloss nail and beauty lounge and highlighted the wellbeing benefits that local businesses bring.
“When you go to a beauty salon it’s time for yourself – to switch off from your stresses and get pampered. It makes you feel better,” he said.
“We want Hamilton to be busy and work to offer something quality and different which brings people to the town.”
Scotland Loves Local Week – part of the wider Scotland Loves Local initiative spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) with support from the Scottish Government – will shine a spotlight on all types of work taking place to make communities fit for the future.
It will highlight the fact that support for local businesses of all kinds is the foundation on which wider work can take place to make town centres better places in which to live, work and visit.
Tracey Campbell-Hynd, of TCH Law, is also president of Lanarkshire Chamber of Trade.
She said: “The High Street is changing. It’s not all about retail now and we want to attract more local businesses.
“We are changing our town centre for the better and really want to see the place flourish. I am really hopeful about what comes next.”
The Scotland Loves Local message will be celebrated at the next Hamilton Market at The Regent Shopping centre on 31st August.
You can sign the Scotland Loves Local Pledge here
