HELPING your friendly local service providers and shops can also help you – statistics show that money spent locally stays locally.

A thriving local economy is better for everyone, including you, your family and your friends. Money spent on the goods and services of locally-owned businesses has up to three times the impact on the community as opposed to corporate chains.

Best of all, there are plenty of immediate perks of local shopping, from specific knowledge and expertise to less time and money spent on travelling and often lower prices!

And a diverse range of local shops and stores offers a wealth of variety and originality that the big, faceless shopping centres cannot match.

Because local entrepreneurs will hire local people with specific expertise, the staff in your local shops will not only be friendly faces but the perfect people to go to for first-class advice.