Behind the scenes of Love Local
The shops offering special Christmas deals
Businesses in Scarborough have been promoting the offers they launched as part of Love Local to attract more support from local residents. Backed by The Scarborough News’ Love Your High Street campaign, the initiative aims to give publicity to the small independent businesses in town who agree to offer deals and discounts throughout the month of December.
Up to 50 businesses have got on board with the scheme to show their dedication to promote local shopping.
Flowers of Distinction on North Marine Road are among those taking part – offering 10% off on all candles, reed diffusers and melt warmers – as a way to fight competition from supermakets.
Owner Michelle Brown said: “Supermarkets keep butting in all the time and if we let them take over we’ll all be left with nothing.
“Our flowers come directly from Holland and we’re caring for them round the clock.
‘A lot of small shops will do a lot for you. We always like a challenge and if there’s anything that we don’t have, we’ll try and get hold of it. It’s a passion for us and customers can see that we love what we do’
In supermarkets they just get chucked in a bucket. There’s no love or care.
“If people buy from us we can offer them bespoke services so any flowers or colours that we don’t have, we can order them in and for anniversaries or funeral services people can ask us exactly want they want.”
Having owned the shop for the past nine years, Michelle has seen a big change in the flower industry. Recognising that passing trade is “a thing of the past”, her business now relies on personalised services and to keep it going, she is encouraging people to buy from local shops like hers.
The same “Love Local” message is shared by Creative Crafts, a gift shop on St Thomas Street.
Owner Trevor Landray took over the premises in 2016 and immediately got involved with the Totally Locally scheme.
This year the shop is offering a 10% discount to anyone who mentions ‘Love Local’ when spending £20 or more.
He said: “A lot of small shops will do a lot for you. We always like a challenge and if there’s anything that we don’t have, we’ll try and get hold of it. It’s a passion for us and customers can see that we love what we do.
“This campaign is another way to show them that we’re willing to put on some offers. Hopefully people will come to look for one thing and while they’re here they’ll find other things that they like.”
According to Trevor, residents should get out of their comfort zone to find out all that Scarborough has to offer.
“It seems like people don’t turn off the main street. This year I have given myself a challenge of buying all Christmas presents in small independent shops. It was a good learning curve because it forced me to down streets that I wouldn’t normally go down and I was quite surprised about the stuff I found.
“People think that buying from independent traders is always going to be more expensive but that’s not the case.”
Love Local offers will be valid until the end of December.