A ‘SHOP local’ campaign for Monmouth is being rolled out by chamber of commerce committee members Sherren McCabe-Finlayson and David Evans, owners of Platform One Creative design studio.

They have designed new ‘Shop Local’ posters for the Monmouth and District Chamber of Commerce, (MDCTC) taking characters that they feel are the town’s demographic shoppers and recreating them in a simple illustrative form which is proving to be an eye-catching addition to the

high street.

Launched on the screens at Monmouth Festival in July, the MDCTC Shop Local campaign has since been spread out throughout the town and David Tovey from Monteas has visited every high street business delivering posters, which are displayed in windows, on ledges, poster displays and in-store.

Both high street multiples and independent retailers have got on board. The Monmouthshire Beacon is helping to promote the campaign through its pages to help to raise the town’s profile further.

Sherren McCabe-Finlayson gave a round-up of the current campaign at the September MDCTC meeting which included, character development, a selfie competition and extensive social media coverage.

Feedback was very positive, and the concept was being taken up by members and non-members, independents and retail chains, in what is intended to be a collaborative programme to enhance footfall.

David Evans expanded on the ambition of the Shop Local campaign by illustrating how there would be representation of an ever-expanding demographic via new characters, each of whom would have a back-story. The intention is to inspire loyalty and to measure public response.

It was hoped that a colouring competition poster might be introduced into schools for the run-up to Christmas and it was suggested from the floor that we might devise a ‘shopping list’ competition as well.