Businesses in Forres are being urged to take part in an initiative which encourages people to shop locally.

Fiver Fest, which is run across the UK by traders’ group Totally Locally, will take place from 12 to 26  March.

It is a chance for independent businesses to encourage people back to the town centre andto say thank you to customers who supported them by offering a £5 product or service.

The event is being co-ordinated for the town by the Forres Area Business Association c.i.c. (FABA) which will help promote the businesses taking part and supply them with promotional material such as posters.

Claire Doughty, a director of FABA, said: “Fiver Fest has been running for a number of years very successfully all over the country. It has worked very well in our neighbouring town of Nairn and the FABA thought it could work equally well in Forres.

“The campaign is aimed at independent businesses and the idea is to get people shopping locally and using local services. In a nutshell, to take part in the campaign, businesses offer a service or a product for just £5. Any business taking part will get support to promote what they are doing from the Forres Area Business Association.  By taking part they will shine a spotlight on their business, encouraging people to take a look at what they have to offer.”

Carrie Custodio, a fellow FABA director and owner of Café 1496, added that businesses outwith the town centre can and should get involved too.

“The Business Association is for the whole Forres area and we want as many businesses as possible, whether they are in the town centre or not, to get involved. There are so many businesses who don’t have a shopfront or premises, but they can still take part.

“For example, over the course of the two-week campaign, I will be offering one of my booths in the café to an outlying business or a business without premises to set up shop and run their offer from here. FABA is also appealing for businesses with premises to support those who don’t. For example, could you spare some space to allow someone to sell their goods from your shop for the campaign period, or give over your shopfront to help promote another business. In my opinion, collaboration is the best way to do business and you never know, Fiver Fest may just kickstart some new partnerships.”

For more information or to get involved in Fiver Fest contact Claire on 07846145050 or email claire@clairedoughtypublicity.uk