Newport traders band together to promote shops (From South Wales Argus)

Newport traders band together to promote shops

1:59pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in News

 

INDEPENDENT traders in Newport are to launch a new map promoting their businesses and are appealing for new members to come on board as they aim to set up a shoppers’ loyalty card scheme in the city.

The group, set up by traders as a reaction to the decline of the city centre as a shopping venue, agreed to launch the maps as a first step towards a range of schemes they hope to introduce to help independents in the city.

The current chairman of the group, Paul Halliday, said: “We had a good recent meeting where people were unanimous in wanting to take some of these ideas forward.

“The first thing we are going to do is produce a fold-out flyer map with a little bit about each of the businesses involved.

“A store can give this out to their customers to promote other businesses in the group.

“The aim is still to set up a loyalty card scheme for independent shops but we are hoping to get more businesses on board before launching that.

“We have a range of businesses involved, from hairdressers to cafés and the hope is to promote Newport as a centre for independent traders and build its reputation up again.

“We want to make it known as the place to come for independent stores.”

Mr Halliday was keen to stress that the group would happily work within a potential Business Improvement District (BID) in the city.

“I was at the BID meeting,”

Mr Halliday said, “and this is no way in competition with that – in fact, everybody involved with the independent traders scheme is on board with the BID idea and we are happy to work within a BID.

“Our group is about promoting independent traders, as obviously some of their needs are different to the big nationals, so it’s about doing both.”

To find out more or to join the group, contact Paul Halliday on phalliday82@gmail.com