Ruddington’s independent shops and restaurants are joining in with the Totally Local National Fiver Fest – an innovative celebration of our independent high streets. Fiver Fest will take place from Saturday 9th to Saturday 23rd October.
During this time, thousands of independent businesses will come together to highlight their contribution to the great British high street.
To show the importance of supporting our high streets, Ruddington is joining with other independent high streets across the UK to put on very special £5 offers across the two weeks.
Mark Pinks from the Ruddington Village Centre Partnership (RVCP) said “The village took part in Fiver Fest last October and it’s now a big part of our promotions for Ruddington. The independent shops and businesses are what makes Ruddington special and unique. The community support for local businesses has been amazing during lockdown, so these offers are to say ‘thank you’ to customers, and to highlight the great value and economic impact of shopping locally.”
Fiver Fest is a free-to-join campaign, devised and run by Totally Locally, a grass roots high street organisation that’s been helping businesses and high streets help themselves since 2010, with incredible results.
For Fiver Fest, Totally Locally is partnering with Visa and together, they’re calling on shoppers to divert £5 of their weekly spend to support the small businesses in their communities.
Fiver Fest is based around the now-famous Totally Locally £5 message:
“If every adult in Ruddington spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops and businesses, it would mean £1.4 million a year going directly into our local economy. Which can lead to more jobs, a better high street, a stronger economy & a nicer place to live. Makes you think, doesn’t it?!”
Last year’s Fiver Fest offers in Ruddington were imaginative and varied from £5 meal deals and £5 coffee and cake, to £5 pizzas, £5 cocktails and £5 flower bouquets. And where the community really got behind the campaign, many businesses found it to be their busiest time outside Christmas.
“We know Fiver Fest isn’t going to change the world,” said Chris Sands of Totally Locally. “But small changes in spending habits can really make a difference to our high streets. Just by diverting £5 of our weekly spend to local independents, we can give them a fighting chance to thrive. The pandemic has shown just what an amazing contribution they make to our local communities – it’s a conversation worth having!
“It’s for this reason that the sixth National Fiver Fest is taking place. This time it’s even more important than ever, after how our world has changed during 2021. YouGov research has shown that 59% of shoppers have used more local shops to support them during lockdown, and they want to keep on supporting them. Fiver Fest makes that even easier.”
For any independent business wishing to participate in the Fiver Fest in Ruddington, please email admin@rvcp.org.uk. For more information, please visit @totallylocalrudd on Facebook and Instagram.
Mark Pinks, RVCP