Shop York is a brand new campaign to encourage residents to explore and shop locally.
Run by the York BID (Business Improvement District) and Indie York, the idea is to boost York’s vibrant high streets during a typically quieter time of year.
Shop York runs throughout February and offers a fun way for shoppers to support local while earning the chance to win top prizes, all donated by city businesses.
So how does it work?
- First you collect your Shop York passport from Visit York or participating businesses
- You then earn one sticker for every purchase over £5 at more than 80 participating retailers.
- Once you collect five stickers from five different retailers, you can enter a prize draw
- And you could win prizes including a £500 York Gift Card, a year’s worth of books and Ray-Ban sunglasses.
From 1 February you’ll be able to identify participating retailers through a sticker in a window or via the Shop York website.
Then you’ve got until 28 February to enter the prize draw.
Project manager at York BID Rachel Bean said: “We are thrilled to launch Shop York, an initiative that provides vital support to businesses when they need it most and rewards shoppers for using the high street.
“Shop York is a win-win: shoppers discover fantastic local businesses, and retailers benefit from increased footfall during a quieter period of the year.”
Rebecca Layton, chair of Indie York, said: “Shop York is a wonderful initiative to encourage customers into the city at a time that is usually most retailers’ quietest time of the year.
“We are thrilled that York BID have extended participation in this scheme to Indie York businesses who are not BID levy payers, to further highlight the vast range of independently owned businesses that the city has to offer.”
Shop York is funded by the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The funding is distributed by City of York Council.