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Businesses and councils in a Warwickshire town have come together to launch a new website and marketing campaign to promote the area.
Love Shipston is aimed at encouraging day-trippers and families to spend more time in Shipston-on-Stour, and explore its small businesses and restaurants.
Stuart Walsh, who runs Shipston Spokes cycle store, said: “We’ve got a Tesco, a Co-op and a Lloyds Bank, but all the other shops and businesses here are locally-owned.”
The project is supported by the town and county councils.
Retail expert Kim Hulse, who has led the project, told BBC CWR: “The website brings together a directory of all the shops, places to eat and drink and all the places to spend some time.”
A retailer involved in the project, Shane Slater, from Sheldon’s Wine Cellars, said the aim was to raise awareness of what the town had to offer.
He explained: “Letting people know we’re here, attracting people to the town, increasing footfall – especially during the week – will be important to all the businesses.”
The Shipston project ties in with a wider Warwickshire County Council campaign encouraging people to Buy and Eat Local.
The authority said if everyone in the county over the age of 16 spent £10 a week with a local business, it would put £5m into the local economy.
Martin Watson from the council said: “These historic towns are fantastic, but it’s important we support them and that’s about buying local.”
He added: “It’s very easy to go off online, but we’re trying to encourage people to get back into these market towns.”
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