The Fiverfest Fortnight returns to Teddington with more businesses than ever encouraging residents to divert just £5 of their weekly outlay to independent shops.
In a bid to reclaim the high street from supermarkets and multinational chains, for two weeks 45 Teddington traders are offering bargains at £5 to entice people to break their usual shopping routines.
The campaign is run by Totally Locally Teddington whose founder Tracey Wardhaugh hopes the fortnight can help show residents what is on their doorsteps.
“Little changes to your habits can make a big difference,” she said.
“This is much more than just another ‘shop locally’ campaign. You need to give people a why, there needs to be more of a reason.
“The idea is they go in because they know they can get something for £5, and otherwise they might never have set foot inside the shop.
“Hopefully they then see how lucky they are to have this shop on their doorstep and next time, instead of going back to their usual haunts, they remember the independent and include it in their regular shop.”
Totally Locally Teddington was formed in November 2012 and this will be the fifth Fiverfest Fortnight campaign they have run.
Two independent shops have shut on Teddington’s high street already this month, highlighting the ongoing struggle as consumers are too willing to find cheaper alternatives online or in supermarkets.
And Ms Wardhaugh, a 42-year-old mother-of-two, says that if every adult in Teddington spent just £5 a week in independent shops it would generate an extra £5.1 million per year to the local economy.
“Independent shops tend to use independent businesses,” she said. “They will use local handymen for odd jobs and source their products from local, usually independent, sellers, and the money stays in the local area.
“There is also an unseen effect on your property price and your quality of life. There has been research recently into how much it adds to an area’s value when there is a thriving independent shop scene.
“Maybe it is all a bit nostalgic, and I admit I do also use the internet to shop, but the supermarkets are so detached from the community.
“They don’t care that there is a drive for the local hospital, but we raised £3,500 for Teddington Memorial last year because we still feel the community is important.
“The £5 effect is like the butterfly effect and our hope is that slowly, slowly it will make a difference.”
Picture courtesy of Jim Linwood, with thanks
