Local MP John Lamont is calling on small shopkeepers to try to make it two years in a row for the Scottish Borders in the UK’s Best Small Shops Competition.
Last year, St Boswells based Mainstreet Trading were crowned the best small shop in the UK as part of a nationwide competition celebrating the creativity of small shops and the role they play in their local community.
The 2018 competition had “by far the biggest impact of anything we have been involved in before” according to owner Rosamund de la Hey.
The competition is open to any small shop operating in the UK. It is free to enter and all shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.
Shopkeepers can nominate their businesses and people can vote online until Thursday 12th September via www.indieretail.uk/best-small-shops/competition/. A shortlist of 25 of the most impressive applications will be drawn up by a panel made up of established representatives from the independent retail industry.
The judges will be looking for evidence of a small shops’ entrepreneurial spirit, ways that they have been innovative in their business and what they have done to have a lasting positive impact on their community.
The shortlisted small shops will be invited to a Parliamentary Reception on 5th November 2019 to meet their Member of Parliament and find out who will be crowned the Best Small Shop for 2019.
John Lamont MP said: “This is a great competition which recognises unique local businesses and the roles they play in our communities. It had a real impact on Mainstreet Trading last year, but their success certainly shouldn’t put shopkeepers off entering this competition. All shops who enter get free promotion and are in with a chance of winning the main prize.
“It would be incredible if the Borders makes it two years in a row and I know there are some really unique shops and worthy winners out there.”
