Moray Shop Local Support local businesses

MORAY SHOP LOCAL

I(Juliette Buchan) set up the Moray Shop Local Facebook page on 23rd March 2020, on the first day of lockdown as a means of helping Moray businesses by sharing information about local offering and promote local shopping during a time of unprecedented economic challenge. This started as a private group with the view of gathering a few hundred people. However it reached 1,000 followers in less than a week; shortly after which it changed to a public forum which now has over 6,400 followers and keep on growing At the time, the group turned a collective feeling of helplessness into a positive collaboration of knowledge. My vision was to create and steward a portal that would be self-populating and content producing, for the benefit to the local retail sector and the wider Moray community. Although the Covid pandemic was the trigger that resulted in the creation of the Moray Shop Local group, it was created with a long term view to promote our local economy At the same time, I have continued to carry out my own role as European Sales Manager for GlenAllachie distillery. All efforts invested in Moray Shop Local have been undertaken in my own free time, for no financial reward. Some features of the group have included a Moray Shop Local Interview series. This has brought an independent perspective on the featured trader and opens the door for local shoppers to know more about the individuals involved, the background to the respective business; further amplifying the local and community sentiments of the group. While I will continue to act as administrator, the aim is for the group to be self-populating and to be a resource and reference points for people wanting to support local businesses. I’ve loved the opportunity to meet many local traders and build a much deeper understanding of the Moray Business community. Moray has a lot to offer, many great businesses, many skills and talents that most of us did not know existed and they truly deserved a platform to showcase them.

QUOTES FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES

Amanda Nasser (McClintock Optical styling boutique, Lossiemouth) “shopping local is the heartbeat of a community, thanks Juliette for your hard work.”

Laura Scott (Ditsy Teacup, Elgin) “Juliette made a conscious decision to help unite and highlight local businesses and residents to give us all a chance to support our local area through this global pandemic. Her enthusiasm for shop local cannot be matched, she backs her words with actions, something we very rarely see nowadays.”

Katie Urquhart (Torta By Katalin) “Juliette hasn’t just created a new social media page to show you where to buy local but created a new community who buys local and support each other every way they can. I can only be grateful she had this great idea the right time and place”

Richard Cumming (Sirology, Elgin) “The Moray Shop Local page created by Juliette has allowed businesses to showcase themselves, some growing - some diversifying. This is down to Juliette – a woman with real passion for what Moray has to offer as an area. The time, effort and passion is evident and without it I really doubt the confidence to shop and eat local would have helped so many businesses on our doorstep. This page has been crucial to the recovery for many businesses – so Juliette a massive thank you from a town centre trader – and a resident for showing us what is available on our doorstep!”

Alison Ruickbie (The Re:Store Shop, Lossiemouth) “Juliette has been an absolute inspiration over lockdown. She interviewed me and asked lots of questions about The Re:Store for the article. It gave my business another platform on which to promote and a whole new audience and potential customer base too in challenging times."