ORGANISERS of 'Totally Locally Tavistock' have thanked the town's Business Improvement District (BID) for the financial support pledged to help kick-start the campaign, which launches this week.

Launching this Saturday (July 13) as part of a nationwide campaign to demonstrate the value of local shopping, Totally Locally Tavistock is being backed by BID as part of its five-year plan to help boost the town centre. 

Tavistock BID chairman Tony Whitehead said:?'We're fully behind Totally Locally. It's a fantastic opportunity to channel everything that's great about Tavistock, support our traders and showcase hidden gems that may not already be on the radar for local shoppers.'

BID manager Lisa Wadling, who is spearheading the Totally Locally campaign alongside fellow resident Rachel Harrison-French, said: 'The campaign is already proving a big hit, with shops reporting increases in spend and customer count.

'Myself and many other residents have given up our time freely to bring this campaign to Tavistock. So many people and organisations have helped and supplied time and goods freely, which demonstrates just how great a place Tavistock is.

'It was thanks to the efforts of BID introducing late night shopping and entertainment in the run up to Christmas that made me think people are really making an effort for me and my family so I decided to try and give something back.

'We have had great support from lots of people, in particular BID, Tavistock Chamber of Commerce and the Pannier Market. I want to take this opportunity to thank BID and our supporters for all the help we have had.'

Tavistock is the latest of many towns across the UK to take up the Totally Locally campaign. This free initiative supports Tavistock's traders to show the value of local shopping and its benefits for the local economy.

Many of the shops, businesses and stalls will have special offers – highlighting Totally Locally's message that if everyone in Tavistock spent just £5 a week in local independent shops, it would bring an extra £2.6-million into the town's economy every year.

More than 60 businesses have put forward £5 offers to run over two weeks, starting on Saturday. The Totally Locally launch event will feature a Totally Locally market with stalls from local traders and many of the local shops, as well as a host of offers to celebrate Tavistock's independent shops and businesses.