Derbyshire councils offer free subscription to online shopping service supporting small businesses

ShopAppy.com is a website which allows shops, cafes, restaurants and other local businesses and community organisations to display their goods and services for online purchasing.

Councillor Tony King, the county’s cabinet member for clean growth and regeneration, said: “It’s a critical time for small, independent retailers, many of whom do not have the money or knowhow to sell their products on the internet.

“That’s why the county council is throwing a digital lifeline to our high streets by offering local businesses free subscription to ShopAppy.com for 12 months to help open themselves and their customers up to an alternative way of doing business.”

Shops and services are displayed together in a single town page, so customers can buy from all their favourite stores in a single transaction.

Some businesses will be able to offer options for customers to click and collect in-store or from a central location, or get goods delivered to their door.

Hope Valley’s was the first community page to go live and the councils are working with businesses across the county to get the service up and running for the all important Christmas period.

Coun King said: “Our high street task force draws on the skills and experience of experts to make sure we are doing all we can to strengthen Derbyshire’s 27 market towns, at this difficult time.”

ShopAppy.com already serves 150 towns in the UK, and £64,000 has been set aside by Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DEP) to pay for 12 months free unlimited use for local retail businesses, market traders, pop-up shops, home-based businesses, event organisers, artists, cafés and restaurants .

DEP chairman Richard Horsley said: “At a time when £1 in every £3 spent in retail is being spent online, it’s crucial that our towns go digital too.

“With ShopAppy.com people can continue to support their favourite local shops from the comfort of their home, buying online.

For more information, go to shopappy.com/vendor or email [email protected].

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