Express & Star

Community's traders can help get region buzzing once again

The last few years have been very tough ones, and communities all over Britain are feeling the impact, with businesses struggling to stay afloat, higher unemployment and cuts to many services.

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But what many of us don't realise is that the choices we all make about where we spend our cash can have a big effect on our local economy.

We all know about carbon footprints and Fair Trade products. Many of us choose to spend our money in ways that help reduce our carbon footprint, or make farming communities on the other side of the world better off. But do we ever stop to think about the effect where we spend our money has on our own local economy right here in the West Midlands?

A thriving local economy is a good thing for all of us – it makes our area a nicer place to live, means more businesses succeed, people are better off, they have more money to spend in the local economy, and so it goes on.

Together, we've got the power to make little decisions that help our economy to thrive.

Here's how. Shopping helps fuel local economies. So where you spend your money counts.

Businesses that are independently owned, which create local employment and that use local suppliers all play a really powerful part in helping our local economy.

This week we're focusing on how spending your money at independent shops and businesses helps make all of us in the Black Country, south Staffordshire and north Worcestershire better off.

When you shop at a business that uses local suppliers, you're supporting the local economy.

Whether it's services like accountancy, paper supplies, IT support; or products that end up in the stuff we buy like milk in our cappuccino or the toy we buy, there are invisible businesses behind the one we see. Where we spend our money affects all of these too.

Small Business Saturday, in two days' time, is an opportunity to promote the wealth of independent shops and businesses that produce goods for the local retail sector.

In Wolverhampton, tax expert Mike Lawson, who started TaxAssist Accountants in Finchfield Road West a decade ago, is hosting a free business clinic today from 1pm to 5pm in support of the national campaign which aims to encourage consumers to use local small businesses and traders.

Mr Lawson ran a Buy Local campaign in 2009 to encourage the community to purchase their goods and services locally.

"We work with many small businesses. We have more than 250 local customers and most are small businesses.

"They like to have someone on their doorstep they can talk to.

"The Finchfield area is a good example of small businesses working together with many joint ventures.

"It is helping to attract more shoppers to the area and improving the viability of local businesses," he said.

This year has also seen the opening of a city centre shop in Wolverhampton showcasing products made by Black Country start-up businesses.

The Shop in the Square in Queen Square has been funded by a project led by retail guru Mary Portas.

Boss Charlotte Clark is also advising businesses on how to develop, market and price their products as well as providing advice on business accounting.

As well as selling goods made by 43 businesses, including hand-made items, furniture, clothing and accessories, jams and preserves, candles, soaps, chocolates and household decorations, it is also hosting exhibitions and workshops.

It is part of the High Street Innovation Fund and Wolverhampton Portas Pilot project which is designed to tackle vacant units in the city centre.

Mrs Clark, a self-employed designer was supported by the scheme after going to the city council with her idea.

"We have got a really good range of products made across the Black Country.

"It has gone really well. The support has been quite overwhelming. When I opened, I didn't know what to expect, but we have more than doubled the projected income.

"It has definitely helped the businesses that the shop promotes. It has given them a chance to sell in the high street and an opportunity to test out products to find out which are good and will sell."

Shop in the Square is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until Christmas Eve.

Mrs Clark is waiting to hear from the city council on whether the unit can continue in the new year.

Meat from local farms is proving a big hit with shoppers visiting the Canalside Farm Shop at Mill Lane in Great Haywood, near Stafford.

A butchers and delicatessen was added in August 2011 to the shop that Chris and Wendy Barton have run at Canalside Farm for 30 years selling local produce.

"Sales at our butchers were up 40 per cent in the second year and are running at 25 per cent up in the third so far," said Mr Barton.

"We have three qualified butchers and we are also keen to educate visitors about the different cuts of meat and how best to use them. A large per centage of the meat we are selling come from local farms."

Mr Barton said they were keen to support neighbouring businesses. As well as sourcing meat locally the shop also uses the services of the W & G Yates abattoir in Brownhills and has used local building contractors for its recent developments.

"Our next project is to build a cafe which we hope to open in the spring," he added.

So when you're out and about doing your Christmas shopping, you have the power to choose where to spend your money so that more of the benefit stays right here helping our local economy to grow. Because that helps make all of us better off, and makes our local area a better one to live in for all of us.

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