Member Article

South Tyneside first in the country for digital shopping

South Tyneside is leading the way in creating a new era for high street spending – by introducing the country’s first digital shopping wall.

And the hope is by giving small retailers a virtual presence it will help build their business to the point where they will be able to actually open a town centre store.

An empty shop at King Street, South Shields has now been liveried up to promote four small businesses, complete with their own QR codes which can be scanned using a smart phone.

The plan is for shoppers to scan the codes and be taken to the companies’ websites or online shops, giving them the opportunity to buy from them directly.

South Tyneside companies - tea and gift shop Mac ’N Alli, Little Angels cards and gifts and jewellery company The Finishing Touch along with The Customs House theatre are the first retailers in the country to be promoted in this unique way.

The initiative has been a joint venture between South Tyneside Council and Wiltshire-based company City Dressing, which specialises in transforming city and town centre spaces using a range of unique solutions.

“Although we create all kinds of imaginative solutions to transform city centre spaces, this is the first time we’ve created a digital shopping wall which will link shoppers directly to the internet,” said Jeremy Rucker of City Dressing.

“We worked with South Tyneside Council to pick four different companies who could benefit from this kind of presence but at present can’t afford to take premises on the high street.

“It’s a perfect solution for them and once which we believe many other towns and cities will now follow.”

Dee Clayton, of Mac and Alli’s, said the shop was delighted to be involved in the scheme.

“Because we’re quite tucked away in Westoe Crown Village and don’t really have a budget for advertising, we’ve had to rely on word of mouth so something like this helps get some attention.

“We’ve very keen for people to find out who we are and what we’re about so we jumped at the chance to be involved.”

Cllr Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, said the digital wall was a great way to give small businesses a higher profile.

“This initiative plays an integral part of our commitment to growing the retail sector in the borough,” he said.

“And of course the ultimate aim is to create enough awareness and to drive enough business to these retailers so that they are able to eventually have a physical presence on the high street.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sorted PR .