New ‘shop local’ discount card expands into Islington
A discount card supporting the best local and independent businesses has expanded into Islington.
The Local Buyers Club, which already offers discounts at more than 130 businesses in North and East London, is working with many of the area’s most respected restaurants and shops, including Galley, Vivo, Salut, Little Bat Bar, Tootoomoo, Farang, Lucky Voice and Planet Organic.
For just £12 per year members get discounts of between 10% and 30% at the businesses signed up to the Club.
Basil Fansa, of the Local Buyers Club, said: “With rising rents and a huge surge in business rates locally, times are extremely challenging for independent businesses here. Expanding into Islington was the natural next step for us and, with such heavy competition on the high street from big name brands, we’re excited to be flying the local flag here.
“Through our marketing and social media platforms, we tell the stories of the people behind independent businesses, share their news and do all we can to encourage diners and shoppers to spend their money at local businesses rather than just at the big chains and multi-nationals.
“Independent businesses are what give our high streets their character – the best local businesses often serve food that far surpasses big chains and, when you shop local, much more of the money you spend makes it back into the local economy.”
Other Islington businesses offering discounts through the club include health shop EpicZen, Bourne’s Fishmongers, The Pantry Underwear shop, Highness Café, Mama Mia restaurant, Atomic record shop, Master Plaice fish and chips, Gymboree, Studio 4 hair salon, Trattoria Sapori and the Factory Gym.
The Local Buyers Club has a strong ethical conscience – for the past five years Jenna and Basil Fansa, the team behind the Club, have run a toy appeal collecting new gifts for thousands of London’s poorest children and in a year they’ve collected the equivalent of more than 2,000 meals for local food banks.
In the year since its launch the Local Buyers Club has amassed a large and loyal following on social media. The Club also offers discounts in large parts of Hackney, Haringey, Shoreditch and The City.
