What’s on in the Paisley area this winter
November 13, 2019Aspiring nursery managers urged to join Renfrewshire Council’s team
November 13, 2019Johnstone residents are being urged to support local traders this Christmas – after members of the local business group signed up to the campaign to Spend Local in Renfrewshire.
Research shows around 65p from every pound spent in the local area stays in the local area – so members of the Johnstone Business Consortium are encouraging residents to help support local jobs and services by doing just that.
Renfrewshire Council launched the Spend Local campaign earlier this year in Paisley in partnership with local business improvement district Paisley First – and is now rolling it out around the area.
The area has lots of independent businesses of all types and sizes – so the council is working with local business groups to promote what they offer and take some practical measures to encourage local trade.
Spend Local posters and window stickers are available to any Renfrewshire businesses for display.
Stacey Thomson, owner of the Pet Shop in Houston Court and a member of the Johnstone Business Consortium, said: “Johnstone has got a variety of different businesses.
“Because we are local to you we know what you are looking for you can come in and chat to us. So it’s like shopping with friends – we get to know your names and what you want.
“It’s important to Spend Local because if you don’t use the shops you will lose them. You can chat to people and get the knowledge and experience they have rather than buying online where you are faceless.
“Money spent in your local community stays in the local community rather than going abroad to some multinational company instead. It helps everything work the way it should – it keeps money here, it keeps jobs here, and it supports the services you need.”
Stacey was joined by the owners of two long-standing family-owned Johnstone businesses – Allan Henderson of Henderson’s Flowers and Carole McLellan of R Brown’s Shoe Repairs and Key Cutting.
If you own a business and would some Spend Local posters or window stickers to display in your own premises, please email hello@Paisley.is
Johnstone residents and visitors to the town will be able to Spend Local in the town in the coming weeks at two big events. First, the business consortium is hosting a Christmas Market from 10am to 3.30pm on Saturday 16 November offering free children’s activities and a visit from Santa himself.
Then, on Saturday 30 November when the town’s Christmas Lights switch-on takes place, with an afternoon of family entertainment planned in Houstoun Square.
Before then, Paisley and Renfrew will host their own festive switch-ons, on Saturday 16th (Paisley) and Saturday 23rd (Renfrew) – meaning residents can support businesses there too. See www.paisley.is or www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/events for more on festive events.
