Member Article

Darlington businesses bid to be named the best

Some of Darlington’s small businesses are in the running to be named the UK’s Independent of the Year, in a national competition.

Bliss Gifts, Duke Street; Guru Boutique and JG Windows, Blackwellgate; Houndgate Townhouse at Houndgate and Emelia’s, at Bondgate, have all entered the annual Kerching retail awards, after BID company Distinct Darlington encouraged businesses to nominate themselves.

Leggs and Indulgence, Skinnergate; Retro SweetShop, Priestgate; Robin Finnegan Jewellers, Post House Wynd and Geoffrey Gillow and Ruby’s, both at Grange Road, have also signed up for the awards, which were formed specifically to champion independent retailers.

Now, all 11 face a public vote to decide which should go forward to the next stage of the competition: representing Darlington in the national finals.

Votes must be cast through the Distinct Darlington Facebook page and the business with the most likes and shares when voting closes on 15 July will then go head to head with around 80 winners from other UK regions in a bid to clinch the national title.

Alex Hirst, manager of Distinct Darlington, said: “Darlington’s independent retailers offer genuine diversity and value for money and any of our 11 entrants would be a great ambassador for the town.”

Organiser of Independent of the Year, retail expert Corin Birchall, said: “Independent businesses are the life and soul of our high street, giving a sense of character to the area and helping to ensure money is kept within the local economy.

“We want this competition to stimulate debate in the area and get people talking about their town and the shops and businesses they love.

It’s a chance to champion what we have and showcase all that’s great about the modern British high street.“

For further information about the competition, which is only open to independent shops with a high street presence, visit www.distinctdarlington.co.uk and, to vote, visit https://www.facebook.com/DistinctDarlington

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sorted PR .