New local directory to boost business
An online marketplace is looking to shine a light on Perth’s independent businesses.
Perth Local already has 300 businesses, takeaways, artists, musicians and photographers signed up to showcase their work despite only being launched eight weeks ago.
In that time over 10,000 people have visited the site while over 3000 potential customers are following the directory on Facebook.
Residents can use the site to purchase goods and services.
Ian Fenwick is one of the instigators behind Perth Local.
He told the PA he was keen to help keep money in the region rather than seeing it disappear into the bank accounts of multi-nationals.
“I used to have a PR company and on March 23 last year it collapsed,” he explained. “I went from 12 clients to just one.
“I spoke to a guy I used to work with and we thought it was going to be a perfect time for deliveries.
“We already owned the Perth Local domain and felt it was the best time to make sure local businesses were being supported.
“We want people to understand that when they buy from a big company, that money goes out of Perth but buying from one of these independent traders means the money stays in the region.
“We are creating a local community where people cannot just find what they need but actually make the purchase. It is all local businesses with a few exceptions.”
Iain says Perth Local takes a five per cent commission on sales through the site - much less than with other vehicles.
His own desire to see the city thrive is borne from his youth when many of his relatives owned shops in Perth.
And admitted to be shocked when he returned after a period away.
“I was born in PRI and my family is all from Perth,” he said. “My entire life has been driven by the High Street. Retail was our livelihood.
“For me coming back, I was alarmed even then about the lack of broad spectrum support for businesses and COVID has made that even more clear.”
Iain now hopes to see the site grow and is in talks to see how it can support the local economy further.
And he also hopes to see the idea grow further through the north east of Scotland.
He added: “The reality is, we feel what we are doing is a huge benefit to local businesses and the community.
“Feedback has been extremely positive. We’ve had lots of people saying they have had a large increase in customers.
“This has all come together in a very short space of time and people have bought into it.”
Go to https://perthlocal.co.uk/ for more information.