Jane Stevenson, MP for Wolverhampton North East, has urged people to go out and support the city’s independent shops on 4th July, as part of the nationwide “Independents’ Day” campaign.
As part of the campaign, Jane and Bushbury North councillor Paul Appleby visited Oxley Stationers and Printers, an independent local stationery business founded in 1981 and based at the Three Tuns Parade on the Stafford Road.
The “Independents’ Day” campaign exists to support and promote independent retail businesses across the UK all year round, but with an annual focus on July 4th: ‘Independents’ Day’ itself. Independent shops account for 65% of the approximately 290,000 retail outlets in the UK and are at the heart of local communities throughout the country.
It has the backing of the Independent Retailers Confederation and the Federation of Independent Retailers.
Jane said: “Independent shops play a vital role in the Wolverhampton economy, and I know many of them have struggled to survive during the lockdown. The comprehensive support provided by the Government in the way of grants and business loans has been hugely welcomed.
“But as lockdown restrictions are easing, now is the time to get out and support our local shops and businesses, many of whom have been around for decades. I would urge everyone in Wolverhampton to shop locally if they can, and support our wonderful independent shops.
Carlo Ropos, owner of Oxley Stationers and Printers, said: “It was fantastic to have our local MP Jane Stevenson pop in and visit us at the shop. I thank her for supporting us and independent shops in Wolverhampton, and I would echo her call for people to come and support their local businesses by shopping locally.
“We were finally able to reopen our business on 15th June, which meant we had been closed for almost 3 months. It has been difficult, but we have been grateful to receive the small business grant funding from Government, which has made a difference.”
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