Think local, buy local and help secure the future for locally owned businesses in Hastings and Rother
Think Local buy local
Encouraging local people to buy from local businesses is the prime objective of a group of businessmen who are urging people to ’think local, buy local’.
Initially launched by Roy Jupp a number other local shops and businesses have quickly joined.
Called Think Local Buy Local – Hastings and Rother Small Business Support those involved hope that as the Coronavirus lockdown eases individuals and businesses will choose to spend their money with locally owned and run businesses rather than national and international chains.
Steve Taylor from Prime Signs who is one of the admins of the new Facebook group says: “During the lockdown people have had to shop in a very different way. In Hastings we have some fantastic independent shops and local people have been finding out how good meat is from an independent butcher, how good fish is when you buy directly from a local fish merchant and it’s been the same with fruit, veg and bakery products.
“Having made that discovery we want people to stick with those independent, locally owned and locally run business because your trade means a great deal to the people running those businesses and might be the difference between them being able to stay open and having to shut for good.”

John Bownas Manager of the Love Hastings initiative said: “The ‘buy local’ message has always been high on our agenda. Research shows that 65 per cent of £1 spent in a local shop remains in the local economy. That means if everyone in the town made the decision to spend just £10 each week locally rather than online or with a national supplier we would lock £20 million into the town. Expand that across Rother and the figure doubles.
“We were also really keen to make sure the message is ‘buy’ rather than just ‘shop’. This isn’t just about going out for groceries or clothes as an individual – it’s about business purchasing decisions too.
“What we want to encourage is businesses supporting other businesses by finding local suppliers and contractors.
Find out more about the new group at it’s Facebook page by following this link https://www.facebook.com/groups/thinklocalbuylocal/about/
“The council have given us the green light to make use of poster sites along the seafront and we’re just starting an online campaign to get everyone sharing a short video we’ve put together. We’ll also be looking for other opportunities to spread the word over the coming weeks.
“So whenever anyone is next about to hit ‘buy’ after a bit of online browsing we’d love them to take a couple of extra minutes to search on Google maps or put out a question on social media for a more local option.”