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Small traders given online shops boost
A Shropshire man has set up a website to help protect independent shops in the county by offering them free adverts and a way for people to shop online.
The website All The Little Shops has just started in Shrewsbury and Peter Riches, MD of BeVivid, the company that has designed the software, is looking to create sites for other towns in Shropshire particularly in Oswestry, Ludlow and Bridgnorth.
Mr Riches, from Condover, said it was a very difficult time for independent traders and he wanted to help them increase customer numbers as well as trade online to compete with multiple retailers.
He said: "We now have more than 50 shops online and 750 products listed.
"The bottom line is the independent retailers in Shrewsbury have been getting a raw deal. We set up ATLS with the help of Fay Easton, from Enterprise HQ centre, and Retailers United to get it off the ground.
"The roadworks have crucified many of the shop and businesses - without exaggeration I hear many will not survive.
"Having worked in retail and town centre management for many years, including setting up one of the first town centre management groups in the UK, working with Business Improvement Districts in Ealing, Hammersmith, Bristol and London, I am committed to helping theindependent retailers survive - and survival it is.
"The site was free to join for the first 50 independent retailers in Shrewsbury - but as these retailers are the soul of town centres and I do not want to see a lifeless town centre - I have extended this free offer to all independent retailers who join up to the end of June.
"This is a first for town centres - an e-commerce shop which allows the retailers to trade securely through a single payment gateway."
Philip and Margaret Andrews, from Salop Sheet Music, signed up to the website and have even managed to sell a cello to Iceland.
Mr Andrews said: "The website is very helpful. I never expected someone from Iceland to pick it up.
"It's a good idea to help businesses - particularly for the small shops."
The main site is www.allthelittleshops.co.uk
the Shrewsbury site is linked as www.shrewsburyshopping.co.uk
By Rebecca Lawrence
Shropshire Star 29th May 2008
