Fiver Fest launches to support local businesses in Eastbourne

Independent shops and businesses will be part of Totally Locally Fiver Fest, which runs from October 10-24.

Thousands of independent businesses across the country will join together nationally to show their vital contribution to the economy.

They will put on special £5 offers for the two weeks this month, starting Saturday (October 10).

Emily Sander, events and marketing at the Enterprise Centre said, “Fiver Fest is now a big part of our promotions for Eastbourne. The independent shops and businesses are what makes our town special and unique.

“We appreciate it when our community support us, so these offers are to say thank you for that support, and to show just what great value our local businesses are.”

Fiver Fest is free to join, and run by Totally Locally, a grass roots high street organisation that has been helping high streets to help themselves since 2010, with incredible results.

Totally Locally is partnering with Visa to encourage even more small business owners to sign up to this celebration of independent high streets. Together, they are also calling on consumers to divert £5 of their weekly spend to support the small businesses in their communities.

Fiver Fest is based around the Totally Locally message: “If every adult in Eastbourne spent just £5 per week in their local independent shops and businesses, it would mean £20.9 million per year going directly into our local economy.

“This can lead to more jobs, a better high street, a stronger economy and a nicer place to live.”

It has been running successfully in individual towns in the UK and abroad for the past seven years, but in 2019 the team at Totally Locally brought together towns across the country to form one big Fiver Fest celebration.

43 towns joined in and the result was phenomenal, with reports of new customers, people rediscovering shops they hadn’t been into for years and huge sales of the £5 offers.

Over the two consecutive Fiver Fests, the number of towns taking part has reached more than 100.

Fiver Fest offers have been imaginative and varied. In February, Eastbourne’s offers included music tuition, lunches and dinners, antiques and gym membership – all for £5!

Chris Sands, from Totally Locally, said, “We know Fiver Fest isn’t going to change the world, but small changes in spending habits can really make a difference to our high streets.

“Just by diverting £5 of our weekly spend to local independents we give them a fighting chance to thrive. It’s a conversation worth having!”

It is for this reason, that the fourth national Fiver Fest is taking place this month. This year it’s even more important than ever to support your local businesses.

Anyone wanting to find out more can head over to www.youreastbournebid.com from October 6, where there will be a full list of businesses taking part.

There will also be posters in windows and dotted around town with the full list of businesses involved for the fortnight.