MAYOR of Worcester Coun Steve Mackay and city council leader Coun Adrian Gregson showed their support for independent traders with a visit to St John’s.
The civic heads were on hand to celebrate Small Business Saturday and to cut the ribbon at the launch of a new mobile phone repair business.
Worcester Smart Tech on King Charles Place opened its doors on the day and Coun Gregson welcomed the addition of the new mobile phone accessory and repair shop.
“St John’s is not only one of the key gateways in to Worcester, but it also has a fantastic array of independent shops which stock an enormous variety of quirky and original products,” he said.
The pair then dropped in to Narraway, a family butchers which has been trading in St. John’s for 42 years.
As well as meat, the shop sells a wide range of pies, cheeses, eggs and preserves with a number of the products are made on the premises.
A visit to DL Ogle Pharmacy, a long established independent business acquired by Dennis Ogle in 1969, was next on the menu where Coun Mackay and Coun Gregson discovered how the businesses expanded since Dennis handed over the reins to his son David in 2009
Another long-standing business was the final stop on the tour as the civic duo visited First Paige Printers which opened the Worcester branch in 1979.
The shop is a popular destination for University of Worcester students who want to get their dissertation printed.
“One of the main advantages of shopping locally is that you can have a face-to-face conversation with the trader and very often, they will tailor their service or products to your individual needs and specification,” said Coun Mackay.
“I urge everyone to see what traders in your neighbourhood have to offer in the run-up to Christmas.”
