Horsham shoppers urged to buy local all year round

This is the message from Horsham District Council who have been running a Buy Local campaign, backed by the County Times.

The council said it has worked hard to support all local businesses in 2020, but never harder than in the run up to Christmas. Marketing campaigns, competitions and promotional trails have all helped to support purchasing safely.

The Buy Local initiatives have been designed to build on this year’s trend of shopping more locally, highlighting a cross section of independently owned businesses across the district and all the ways people can buy from them safely including click and collect and home delivery services.

Horsham District Council cabinet member for the local economy, councillor Paul Clarke wished all local businesses a Merry Christmas and reassured them that the support will continue into the New Year.

He said: “Our backing of Buy Local is, ‘not just for Christmas!’

“Campaigns such as The Gift Hunters, Window Wonderland and the search for the district’s champion hot chocolate maker may have been tailored to the festive season, but there are other campaigns such as Take a Break – targeted to home workers, and the Virtual Horsham shopping portal – providing easy access to local online traders, that will continue into the New Year and be kept relevant to whatever circumstances we are living with at the time.”

Mr Clarke said he wanted to thank everyone who has supported local businesses in 2020 and urged residents to keep ‘buying local’ in 2021.

He added: “It keeps so much more money in our communities and helps to secure local employment at a time when the market is so tough.

“With you choosing to use your buying power locally, we are keeping our high streets healthier than most and well positioned to take advantage of the post-Covid times ahead of us.”