Businesses and shoppers in the Forres area are being encouraged to take part in an initiative which encourages people to shop locally.
The Magic Tenner, which is run across the UK by traders’ group Totally Locally, will take place from 1to 16 March.
It is a chance for independent businesses to encourage people to buy from them and to say thank you to customers who supported them by offering a £10 product or service.
The event is being co-ordinated for the town by the Forres Area Business Association c.i.c. (FABA) which will help promote the businesses taking part and supply them with promotional material such as posters, banners and bunting.
Claire Doughty, a director of FABA, said:
“The Magic Tenner is a great initiative, and this is the second time that FABA is promoting it.
“The last time we took part we had over 20 businesses supporting the campaign, we would love to push this over 30 this time.
“The Magic Tenner runs very successfully all over the country and puts a real spotlight on what a great business landscape we have in the Forres area and reminds people that buying locally is important to keep money in the local area.”
She added:
“The campaign is aimed at independent businesses.
“In a nutshell, to take part, businesses offer a service or a product for just £10.
“Any business that tells us they want to take will get support to promote what they are doing from the Forres Area Business Association.
“By participating they will shine a spotlight on their business, encouraging people to take a look at what they have to offer.
“The Business Association is for the whole Forres area and we want as many businesses as possible, whether they are in the town centre or not, to get involved.
“There are many businesses who don’t have a shopfront or premises, but they can still take part.”
Eilidh Sharp, marketing manager at Mackenzie & Cruickshank Garden Centre said:
“We have taken part in The Magic Tenner before and we did have people coming into the garden centre looking for our specific offers.
“It’s great way to get people focused on shopping locally particularly in independent businesses such as M&C.
“M&C will be offering three packs of bedding plants for £10 and there will be a coffee shop offer too.”
The Forres Area Business Association kicked off 2025 with a Burns Breakfast and has a busy events schedule planned for the rest of the year.
The next event will take place on February 20 at 6pm in Café 1496 when FABA will welcome Gemma Cruickshank from Visit Moray Speyside to explain to businesses that want to attend, even if they are not currently members of FABA, what that organisation does for the area.
A tour of Benromach which will take place in March is already sold out.
Other events over the year will include tours of local business premises, an event to attract young people into networking and various casual meet ups for businesses to connect.
