LOVE LOCAL
By Anita Jaynes
love local a community responsibility
At the beginning of August , we launched our Love Local initiative , # LoveLocalWilts , a 15-week campaign to encourage people to buy local , explore Wiltshire ’ s amazing towns and city and support the many independents which make this area so unique .
The idea was created to support our high streets as they opened their doors for the first time since lockdown . By the time our campaign comes to an end we will have given free publicity to over 100 businesses thanks to the support of our sponsors , Goughs Solicitors , Nathan Ind Financial Planning , Fiona Scott Media Consultancy , The National Self Build & Renovation Centre , Naturally Social , Priority IT and OJO Solutions .
At the time of going to press , # LoveLocalWilts has so far received over 50,000 impressions on Twitter , over 14,000 views on LinkedIn , over 6,000 views on Facebook , thousands of likes and hundreds of comments . Even better , we know people have spent money in the businesses we ’ ve featured as a direct result of the campaign and that ’ s what it ’ s all about .
I would like to say a huge thank you to our sponsors for making this campaign happen , you ’ ve made a real difference to small businesses in our community and we will continue to fly the flag for Wiltshire ’ s indies in the coming weeks . Our campaign is set to end on Friday 13th November .
I would like to make a big plea to anyone reading this , in the coming weeks and on the run up to Christmas please support local and think about what gifts you can source from Wiltshire ’ s high streets , whether that ’ s supporting retailers in store or via online shops as the threat of a second lockdown looms . Personally , I ’ m going to be making a conscious effort to use this as an opportunity to mix it up this year and come up with some quirky and unusual gifts my friends and family wouldn ’ t expect , whilst flying the flag for the county I call home .
The next 6 towns we ’ re putting the spotlight on in our 15 week campaign are :
• Calne : 3rd-9th October
• Trowbridge : 10th-16th October
• Devizes : 17th-23rd October
• Warminster : 24th-30th October
• Marlborough : 31st October- 6th November
• Salisbury : 7th-13th November
# LoveLocalWilts has made an impact . Here are the results so far ...
• Over 50,000 impressions on Twitter
• Over 14,000 views on LinkedIn
• Over 6,000 views on Facebook And thousands of likes , shares and comments .
Follow # LoveLocalWilts
If you ’ re interested in sponsoring our online coverage between now and the end of the campaign email : press @ tbesw . co . uk
18 www . tbeswindonandwilts . co . uk