25 June 2007, 19:05 PM
  • My Shop Is Your Shop campaigners estimate that 45,000 independent retailers were involved in one way or another in the first National Independents' Week.

MSYS chairman, Alan Toft, said, “The level of mobilisation of support for NIW and independents by the wholesale sector through the FWD in itself was historic and massive.

“Being independents, there is no uniform standard of activity in stores. There were some street parties and other celebrations, but in a major or minor way NIW touched the vast majority of family businesses and sole traders.”

He added, “The accepted figure for the total universe of independent c stores, newsagents, rural shops, food and wine stores and delis is about 60,000. We will never capture them all, but we must set a target of 50,000 for 2008.

Mr Toft estimated that 27,000 independent c-stores and rural stores bought the special offers provided by wholesalers. And 5,000 retailers received the NIW in-store theatre kits of t-shirts, caps, balloons and stickers.

A total of 3.5m consumers received the Daily Mirror and Daily Record containing money off coupons on 12 big brands plus editorial coverage of successful community independent retailers.