Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Ex TV worker takes on Tesco Towns/Ten reasons to shop local

Businesswoman shops around for antidote to Tesco towns

TV production worker turned businesswoman Joanna Moyser is urging shoppers to support local traders in the face of a growing stranglehold on communities by supermarket giants.

Joanna, 29, of Sheffield, is the brains behind a new Shopper’s Guide To…(www.shoppersguideto.co.uk) franchise which encourages traders to be featured on handy maps promoting a “united front” against the growth of so-called “Tesco towns.”

She said: “The supermarket giants are decimating communities. The best message to get out there's shop smart - shop local. My Shopper’s Guide To…maps can help small shops encourage potential customers to do just that.

“There’s a common misconception that shopping locally is more expensive or offers less choice.

“This isn’t true. In fact, shopping in the high streets or arcades closer to home brings key social, economic and environmental benefits and helps keep communities alive.

“There is a fantastic range of produce and goods available from small shops in cities, towns and villages across the UK. But they are finding it more and more of a challenge to compete with supermarkets and out of town retail parks.

“I hope that by making the most of my Shopper’s Guides To…, traders and customers can get to know each other better and help bring a fresh impetus to shopping locally.

"More than 50% a million people are employed in retail in the country’s rural towns and villages, and they in turn contribute to the local economy.

"Research shows that, for every £10 spent in an independent shop, £25 is generated for the local economy, compared to £14 if the same amount is spent in a multi-national chain."

Joanna previously worked with Diarmuid Gavin at the BBC before joining Frontline Television where she worked her way up to production and distribution manager.

Then she and fiance Rob Moyser made the bold move to leave their careers in London to get married and start a family back home up north, in Sheffield, where they could afford to buy a house.

She said: “The way the Shopper’s Guide To…franchise works is that I supply startup packs, providing people who want to boost their income with everything necessary to produce the guide.

“The idea came to me while I was out shopping in my local area, in between looking for production work. A local shop keeper was upset that people would come in saying they didn’t know he was there when he’d been there for years. My idea stemmed from that.”

“I needed to get a key cut but didn’t have a clue where to look. I thought a map would be of great benefit to the area, so I got involved with the local trade association and created one. It took a lot of time and money to develop but as soon as it hit the shelves it took off!”

“The startup pack will provide people looking for a way to earn extra income with a fast, fun and sustainable solution. It requires no previous experience or skills as all the training and support is provided, enabling you to produce a really stylish and unique local resource in just a few weeks.’

“What’s more, the production of a map can fit in with the individual’s existing work or family commitments as it can be done from home during the day or at evenings and weekends. I had so much success initially that I decided I wanted to make the opportunity available for other women who were seeking a more flexible career option.

“As a business opportunity, this is ideal for women who want to become their own boss and give their household income a boost by working part time from home.

Since the Shopper's Guide to... can be completed quickly and repeated once every six months it is ideal for women who do not want a permanent job with ongoing deadlines, pressures and responsibilities.

“Each bi-annual guide should make more than £7,000 profit and take a couple of hours a day for six to eight weeks to produce.

“Local retailers are constantly looking for ways to promote themselves in order to compete with large indoor shopping centres. The Shopper’s Guide To provides a fantastic resource for shoppers and shopkeepers alike so advertisers are sponsoring a genuinely useful publication – and they’re guaranteed fantastic exposure.”

The Shopper's Guide to... is ideal for someone who is ready to try something new, develop new skills and feel a real sense of achievement. It is also a great way to get involved with the community and help the local economy and the environment by encouraging people to shop local.

Top Ten reasons to Shop Local by www.shoppersguideto.co.uk

Your local shops:

· Have a brilliant range of products that won’t cost you the earth.

· The shops are on your doorstep – why not walk! Save time, money and petrol.

· Promote a sense of community

· Give a special shopping experience thanks to independent, often quirky or “different” traders who listen to their customers.

· Are more environmentally friendly - supporting locally sourced produce and cutting down on travel.

· Boost local employment

· Support worthy causes through trade associations, rotary clubs or other networks.

For more info, please see: www.shoppersguide.co.uk

Issued by Linda Jones at Passionate Media on behalf of www.shoppersguideto.co.uk For more info please contact Joanna on 0114 201 4505