Press Release

1 November 2021

Live Love Local request to shoppers as Fareham traders launch Christmas campaign and website

Please love local! That’s the request from shops and businesses across Fareham’s towns and villages, who have united for a huge campaign to get high streets and village centres buzzing in the run-up to Christmas.

The Live Love Local message, supported by Fareham Borough Council, is designed to help the area’s diverse range of unique, independent shops and food and drink businesses bounce back after the challenges of the pandemic and rally against competition from online and out of town shopping.

A new Live Love Local website www.livelovelocalfareham.co.uk and social media campaign have been launched to keep shoppers up to date with what’s on offer on their doorstep, as well as details of events, such as the Fareham Christmas lights switch-on, designed to entice people into their local centres and get them in a festive mood.

Live Love Local photo frames are circulating local stores so that traders can encourage customers to shop local via their social media channels. Shoppers will also be in with the chance of winning a hamper full of goodies from local traders worth £150 when they share their photos with the hashtag #livelovelocalfareham.

Kimmy Sabey, from Hearts and Hugs in Titchfield, said: “It’s been a really challenging time for businesses like ours, but one thing we have learned from Covid is how much people appreciated their local shops and traders as being a vital part of the community.

“Now the worst is hopefully over, we want to encourage people to keep us in mind when it comes to Christmas shopping. Shopping locally for gifts and finding something special for someone you love is so much more personal than shopping online – and it supports your local economy at the same time. There are so many fantastic independent shops and businesses right on our doorstep, and we want to create a real community feel with our Live Love Local message.”

The campaign is supported by Fareham Borough Council. Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Seán Woodward, said: “Local businesses that were able to open during the various lockdowns were truly appreciated by the local community, and we are all so grateful to see the return of so many much-loved businesses once the restrictions were lifted.

“We are pleased to fund this campaign through the European Regional Development Fund and encourage the community to back our local traders who deserve our gratitude and support, especially in the run-up to Christmas, which is a crucial time for them.

“We would ask people to embrace the Live Love Local message. A wander into town for a spot of Christmas shopping and a catch up with friends can bring a huge amount of festive cheer to traders and shoppers alike.”

Visit www.fareham.gov.uk for more information.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

This initiative forms part of a wider project for which the Council is receiving up to £271,540 of funding from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.

For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding. Download the ERDF logo - https://www.fareham.gov.uk/images/latest_news/ERDF-HMGov.jpg’

For further information contact:

Customer Enquiries

Tel: 01329 236100
Email: customerservicecentre@fareham.gov.uk

Media Enquiries

The Communications Team
Tel: 01329 824310
Email: publicity@fareham.gov.uk
Fax: 01329 550576

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