Business is booming in Oswaldtwistle after a successful campaign funded by Mary Portas’s high street scheme and local retailers.

A flyer promoting the town’s shops and services was financed using £1,000 Mary Portas funding plus contributions from retailers – who say trade has been on the up ever since.

In a survey carried out by marketing company Scott Dawson Advertising, who designed, produced and printed the leaflet, 45% of shopkeepers included in the flyer said they had seen an upturn in business since it had been circulated, with 10% declaring that trade had increased by 50% within five days of distribution being completed.

Around 70% of business owners said their customers had mentioned the campaign when visiting Union Road shops.

Sean Reid, owner of The Chippy, said customers have been “buzzing” about the leaflet, while Kevin Aaron, of K & S Aaron Butchers, said many customers had been prompted to take a walk down Union Road after picking up the leaflet up in Oswaldtwistle Mills.

Azar Iqbal from Oswaldtwistle Pharmacy said: “We’ve already requested more flyers to put into bags with prescriptions and we plan to put a screen up in the shop to show all of the videos featured in the leaflet on a rolling loop. It’s been fantastic for Oswaldtwistle.”

Gayle Knight from the Oswaldtwistle Town Team said: “There has been a lot of negativity about how Portas Pilot funding is being spent but our campaign shows a little financial support can go a long way towards enticing people back to their local high street.”

A second leaflet is already in the pipeline – Oswaldtwistle Town Team is currently seeking funding for a Christmas flyer encouraging Hyndburn shoppers to support the region’s shops in the run up to the festive period.

Anyone who wishes to attend the next Oswaldtwistle Town Team meeting can contact Gayle Knight on 01254 398319, or info@civicartscentre.co.uk

To view all of the videos featured in the leaflet, visit www.youtube.com/oswaldtwistlevideos

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