Inverness business owners share their favourite local Christmas shopping spots
Sponsored editorial with Inverness BID
The Music Shop
What are your favourite places to go in the centre and why?
The food hall in the Victorian Market! I think they’ve done a magic job renovating it there. It’s really nice and cosy with Christmas decorations at the moment — in fact, the whole Victorian Market is lovely.
How can the LOVE Inverness App help bring our community together?
I like that every business can put their own quirk on it, to showcase the unique things they offer. It’s a great way to bring the community together.
Why is shopping local important?
As much as people like shopping online, it’s much more personal to go into a shop. We have a number of customers who come in on a regular basis, you get to know their names and have a laugh with them. You don’t get that online. People still matter in Inverness.
Prickly Thistle
What are your favourite places to go in the centre and why?
My favourite places in the city are all of the independents, I try to make sure over the months that I spread my support to as many as possible because when you buy from an independent you get to really know the people who work SO hard to keep their store going and make the items, they all have amazing creations to offer and when you start to see the people behind them and you love your items more.
How can the LOVE Inverness App help bring our community together?
The LOVE Inverness App we think has the real potential of creating an easy go to place for anyone coming to the city. To find out about events that are on, stores of all types, fun promotions with maps and more. The best part being you get to do it without being tracked or seeing "sponsored" ads hunting you down. We LOVE the LOVE Inverness App because of this.
Why is shopping local important?
It’s so important for many reasons, buying more locally produced anything is generally less damaging to the planet and then you know when you buy this you are helping pay the wages of someone who lives not far from you to do/make what they love and be paid fairly for it. When made locally and bought locally, it will not be mass produced and will be as unique as you! It helps us support each other.
Brook Taverner
What are your favourite places to go in the centre and why?
For me, H&M and other menswear stores are what piques my interest. My favourite restaurant is probably La Le on Academy Street. I love their Turkish-Mediterranean food. It’s hard to just pick a few places.
How can the LOVE Inverness App help bring our community together?
I think it’s important to have a hub for everyone, and for those who perhaps don’t want to use social media. Facebook and Twitter can alienate a lot of people - but somewhere like the LOVE Inverness App can be a much more friendly and social environment. I think it’s a really good thing.
Why is shopping local important?
Shopping locally keeps our city centre alive, supports jobs, and strengthens the local economy. A thriving high street is the heart of any community.
La-Di-Da Fashion
What are your favourite places to go in the centre and why?
I like to support the small independent shops, and I also like to go into the Eastgate Centre. I think we all need to support local or locally based businesses more.
How can the LOVE Inverness App help bring our community together?
I think the LOVE Inverness App will help bring people together, which is very important to us. It’s still fairly new, but we are really looking forward to engaging with our community more.
Why is shopping local important?
It’s important that we try and support each other — if somebody comes into my shop and I don’t have what they’re looking for, I always try to send them to other local shops who can help them. We really care and it’s great to see people helping each other.