New app to more shopping locally
Businesses in a borough now have a new way to promote their services and products online thanks to launch of an app.
ShopAppy, supported by Walsall Council, allows customers to divert their online browsing towards spending their money locally.
Through the website, traders can promote and sell their products and services in one place, with customers able to browse, book and buy through a click and collect option.
Yesterday's (FRI) launch coincided with Love Local Day and over the coming weeks agents will be visiting businesses and encouraging them to sign up to the service that in turn encourages shopping locally.
For the first three years of the scheme, the council is subsidising subscriptions for businesses to join ShopAppy, which has an annual subscription of £99.
ShopAppy operates in a number of locations across the country but Walsall has become the first town in the West Midlands to adopt it.
The initiative supports plans for a long-term vision to physically transform Walsall town centre, as outlined in the Town Centre Masterplan.
One of the first businesses to sign up was Ahsan Mahmood, manager of Freedom Furniture, who said: “Our business not only sells furniture we also make bespoke furniture on our premises using locally supplied materials.
"Many people in Walsall may not know we are here, so this is a great opportunity for us to join a Walsall shop window to make more local customers aware of what we can do"
ShopAppy champion Anil Shani, who has been leading business recruitment of the scheme, said he had been impressed with the number of businesses and range of services on offer.
“I am looking forward to seeing the scheme launch shortly and I am certain that people will be really impressed with the range and variety of businesses available in Walsall that they will soon be able to browse online," he said.
Residents are being invited nominate a businesses, via shopappy.com/love-local-day, for a special Love Local Day reward.
Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Adrian Andrew, said: "Every High Street in the country has seen a decline in shoppers with the trend for online shopping.
"ShopAppy will help to level the playing field. Our hope is that the site will bring people back into Walsall to support the many independent traders we have."
Businesses interested in joining ShopAppy are encouraged to email anil@shopappy.com for more information or register on ShopAppy.com/Vendor
