A Twitter advent calendar celebrating Britain’s independent high street retailers will be launched by NatWest this Sunday.
From gift shops to bakeries, the social media Christmas countdown will showcase everything that makes Britain’s independent shops so special, profiling a different local retailer each day from across England and Wales.
NatWest is launching the calendar as part of its support for Visa’s #WhereYouShopMatters campaign, which aims to encourage more shoppers to visit their local high street and shop locally this Christmas.
Research commissioned by Visa found that seven out of ten consumers (73%) say that shopping locally makes them feel happy, with two fifths (42%) citing supporting local shops and knowing where their money is going as the main reason why.
NatWest will open the first door of its Twitter advent calendar on December 1 with a video featuring Halls of Llandaff, a family-run gift shop in the suburbs of Cardiff that opened in the late 1970s.
Owner Pete Hall said:
“We’re in Llandaff High Street in Cardiff and this has been my family store for the last 40 years so I’m just the newbie, I’ve only done 25 years. I think shopping locally is important because it supports the local community. Whether its cards, community spirit or a good old chat where you shop really matters; you help support where you live and that helps everyone.”
The shop has been supported by Gemma Collins, one of NatWest’s Business Growth Enablers who help and support local businesses.
She said:
“The advent calendar is about celebrating the amazing work of the independent retailers who make our high streets what they are. They work tirelessly throughout the year and bring so much creativity and diversity to our local towns and cities. That is why we’re really proud to support these businesses and just as importantly, the people behind them.”
You can follow the NatWest advent calendar at @NatWestBusiness.
