Member Article

Businesses launch Love Leam campaign to promote high street shops

Town centre retailers will be showing their love for Leamington in a new campaign to encourage residents to shop in their high street.

BID Leamington has launched Love Leam Month throughout February to inspire shoppers to explore the wide range of independent and national stores situated throughout the town centre.

Gary Jones, who works in project support at BID Leamington, has visited 40 shops to learn more about the people behind their business along with why they chose to open their shop in Leamington.

Some of those interviewed will be featured in their own video while others will be showcased on BID Leamington’s social media through individual posts and videos. One of those to take part was Harvey Broadbent, owner of Positive Outlook, which employs eight members of staff selling sustainable and organic clothing made from bamboo and other natural fibres.

He said: “I’m a former student of Princethorpe College in Warwickshire and Leamington Spa was where I spent a lot of my fondest days growing up, returning as a business owner it has been very apparent the love and support that the people of Leamington show to local and independent retailers, many of whom are now our customers. “We moved from our pop-up shop in the Royal Priors Shopping Centre to the infamous Parade last November, attracted by the sheer beauty of the street on a sunny day and the appeal of our front window display being viewed by pedestrians and motorists alike 24 hours a day.

“We have found that online we are busiest during the week but the store is bustling at the weekends, we love having a physical store for the opportunities it creates through conversation and the fact that the comfort of our clothing truly has to be felt to be believed.

“We produce clothing with people at heart and the planet in mind, using ethical manufacturers, paying fair living wages, while offering free meals for all our garment manufacturers. This combined with the sustainable materials we choose and high-level workmanship produces comfortable garments that last a lifetime. “We wanted our store to match the natural and minimal feel of our clothing. We stripped back the plastic vinyl flooring to the original floorboards and sanded them back to their former glory. I designed a modular display system using minimal materials sourced locally from FSC certified growers, creating a place which truly represents our brand and feels like home.

“I think this video campaign perfectly represents why we came to Leamington. The support you get from BID Leamington is genuine and this gives a voice to town centre retailers and an opportunity to promote ourselves to a wider audience. “It will be interesting to see the feedback it receives as there are so many wonderful and fascinating shops across Leamington just waiting to be discovered. It’s definitely surreal owning a store in the town I once paraded through as a kid and definitely a bit of a dream come true. One would say it’s a ‘natural’ home for Positive Outlook.” Stephanie Kerr, executive director at BID Leamington, said Love Leam Month was designed to shine a light on all the exciting and varied stores situated in Leamington town centre.

She said: “February is known as the month of love with Valentine’s Day in the middle so we wanted to create a campaign to attract new and old shoppers to reflect how lovely Leamington is whatever the time of year. “We were delighted so many retailers wanted to be involved in the video project and this gives us a chance to showcase Leamington to as wide an audience as possible. “We would like to thank everyone for giving up their time to take part and we hope they are as pleased with the final results as we are.” People are being encouraged to support Love Leam Month by following @LoveLeamington on Twitter and Instagram and Royal Leamington Spa Town Centre on Facebook.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .