In 2020 a 'Shop Southend-on-Sea' stakeholder group was established with business representatives from across the town to discuss and progress borough wide initiatives. Projects the group have been involved in include:
'Shop Local, Shop Southend-on-Sea' marketing campaign across social media, radio, bus stops and billboards
Online Visit Southend directory for Click and Collect businesses
The Best Festive Business competition
Advising on 'Shop Safe, Shop Southend-on-Sea' signage, safety support and business requirements
We’re now looking to support our independents in Southend by helping them build a strong online presence alongside their bricks and mortar stores.
We have recently met with the Totally Locally team who are an award winning not-for-profit organisation that has spread across the world with the message of supporting local independent businesses.
They have been developing their new ‘Local Independent High Streets Online’ project - town based websites that bring together independent businesses, all in one place (example here). Customers can buy products or services from multiple local businesses, choose click & collect or delivery and pay in one go at the checkout. This one stop shop allows people to discover more of their local independent businesses and the shop owner has the option of allowing them to click and collect their orders, select postal delivery or simply head to a business’s existing website to learn more about them.
If we get enough independent business from across Southend-on-Sea interested, they will set up a website for us which represents the vibrant independent scene across our borough. Each business will get a secure, bespoke online shop. Shoppers can choose to support their town by visiting, browsing and buying from multiple businesses in the place that they live. It’s a virtual high street open 24 hours a day!
This is for any independent businesses registered in Southend-on-Sea whether they offer products, such as clothes or books, or services, such as haircuts or food and drink.
At this stage, we just want to see who's interested without the requirement for you to commit to the scheme.
Register your interest by completing this short form and we'll be in touch.
