An online marketplace which enables Doncaster residents to browse, book and buy from their local shops and businesses has launched.
ShopAppy.com/Doncaster connects local businesses to residents and is a free initiative introduced by Doncaster Council to support them in response to the pandemic.
To mark its launch, a special event took place on Friday 2 July in Doncaster town centre where ShopAppy vouchers were handed out to lucky people and various entertainment was lined up.
Cllr Glyn Jones, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing and Business, said: “We are providing ShopAppy.com/Doncaster to our businesses for free so they can show what they do and offer to a bigger audience. We are doing this to promote local shopping. We already have lots of businesses signed up but we do encourage our local independents right across the borough to sign up and tap into another way to attract customers.
“It will help our shops with their online promotion, raise their profile by getting their name out there and drum up more custom. It’s an easy way for them to start promoting and selling their products and services online.
“It’s also quick and easy for residents to see what is available locally from the comfort of their own home at any time of the day or night. They can buy what they need and want from various local shops at one convenient website. With just a couple of clicks, their shopping is ordered. They can then go and collect it or, in many cases, have it delivered to their door.
“ShopAppy is going to be make a big difference. We urge our businesses to sign up and we ask Doncaster residents to use the website and buy local. This is your online, local business community. Let’s do it for Doncaster businesses.”
Dr Jackie Mulligan, founder of ShopAppy and high street taskforce expert said: “It has been great to see this scheme roll-out thanks to a great collaboration between the council, us and local businesses. Many people turned to local businesses during lockdown, now it is easier to make that positive shift in behaviour permanent – shopping local is for life, not just for lockdown so if we want to live in vibrant places, we need to support the businesses that make them vibrant – ShopAppy.com in Doncaster will make it easier for us all to do just that.”
Antony Frith from The Shoe Healer, said: “Doncaster is a great place to come and shop. It’s fabulous for a day out and you can get everything you need. The new website will make it easier to see what we have in stock, buy online and then come in to pick your shoes up or we can deliver them to wherever you want. Support your Doncaster shops.”
Karen Davis from the greengrocers KD Davis & Sons, said: “We want all residents to support their local shops. We have quality fresh produce from local farmers at exceptional value and with a warm friendly service. You can order online to click and collect your fruit and vegetables or we can deliver to your door.”
Hannah Shekle from Dreambakes, said: “I believe ShopAppy brings the convenience of online ordering that large retailers have to customers, while retaining the personal service and care that small retailers provide. It will bring together different businesses in a supportive community, and enable us all to bring extra trade to each other, like the High Street is meant to.”
ShopAppy.com/Doncaster enables local businesses to set up their own mini website, where they can sell their products to local people and have them click and collect. This helps drive footfall to Doncaster’s many local shopping areas. Alternatively, people have the option to have shopping delivered to their home.
It will benefit local independent businesses, especially those who don’t currently sell products online, and for those already online, ShopAppy.com provides a local channel to share their products with the people most likely to come into town in person. Often people shop online at big well-known stores for the convenience. Now that convenient online platform exists for local businesses.
People are encouraged to make ShopAppy.com/Doncaster the first website they go to when they need to shop and to think local first.
Buy local, support Doncaster and its businesses.
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