Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is launching a campaign encouraging residents to ‘Shop Local This Christmas’ and ‘Discover what’s on their Doorstep’. Antrim, Ballyclare, Crumlin, Glengormley and Randalstown, alongside the villages in the Borough, all have a great breadth of independent retailers and eateries offering a personal service and high level of expertise.
Online competition is changing the future of Town Centres. Shopping local not only supports our local businesses but retains wealth locally, creates jobs and provides training opportunities. Our towns and villages are the physical heart of our culturally rich, socially vibrant communities and everyone has a role to play in keeping them healthy and active.
How we buy goods and services significantly impacts on local life. The Council believes in the importance of shopping local and where possible buys goods and services from businesses based within the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman John Smyth, commented,
“As a former business owner within the Borough, I cannot stress enough how important the loyalty and custom of people who live locally is to the success of our local businesses. I am pleased to be able to report that Council is leading by example in this area, and in the 18/19 financial year to date, Council has purchased goods and services from local businesses to the value of £6.4 million. I fully support the campaign to Shop Local This Christmas and encourage everyone to Discover What’s on their Doorstep.”
The Shop Local Campaign will be rolled out across social media in the build up to Christmas. In the New Year a broader campaign will support our Town Centres with promotions and offers.