INDEPENDENT shops in Knutsford are being invited to join the dozen who are taking part in the first Totally Locally National Fiver Fest.

The event is taking place between February 15 and 29 in more than 60 towns throughout the UK, encouraging shoppers back into their local town centres and high streets.

Shops, cafés, and businesses taking part are putting on special £5 offers for the duration of the Fiver Fest campaign.

Look out for the distinctive posters around town and online promoting all the Fiver Offers.

A dozen Knutsford businesses have so far signed up for the event – The Real Fruit Creamery, Cocaranti, Knutsford Tea Room, Tatton Photography, Knutsford Heritage Centre, The Plastic Free Weigh, Neki Café, The Market Café, Woods butchers, Greetings Cards and Balloons of Knutsford, Lou Lou Bella Boutique and Paris Boutique.

Sandra Curties, Knutsford town centre and marketing officer for Knutsford Town Council said: “We’re joining in with the National Fiver Fest to give people some great bargains for local shoppers, but also to showcase the town and the great shops and businesses we have here.

“The Fiver Fest promotes the main Totally Locally message that if every adult in Knutsford spent just £5 a week with their local independent shops and businesses instead of online or at the big supermarkets or chain stores it would be worth £2.6 million going directly into our local economy.

“Independent businesses tend to use local suppliers, who are also often independent, family-run businesses.

“So that £5 spent is re-spent locally as well, further helping the town. And the beauty of spending £5 is that it’s easy, guilt-free and pretty much anyone can do it. Tiny actions like this can make a huge impact when lots of people vote with their feet.”

Knutsford Guardian:

The Fiver Fest is part of the award-winning Totally Locally town kit campaign for towns to use, which has been hugely successful in helping towns buck the trend of declining high streets.

Three previous winners of the High Street of the Year competition have been ‘Totally Locally towns’.

Once towns start to collaborate, share ideas and market each other’s businesses it has a huge benefit to residents, businesses and the surrounding supply chain, making the towns a better place to live and work, with better facilities and employment.

Any independent business wishing to take part in the Fiver Fest in Knutsford contact Sandra Curties on sandra.curties@knutsfordtowncouncil.gov.uk as soon as possible.