F.Hinds Encourages People To Shop Local With ‘Mums Love Local’ Campaign
07 Mar 2023
Middlesbrough residents are being encouraged to think local when spoiling their mum this Mother’s Day, supporting lots of other mums working in the city in the process
A family run jewellers is taking part in a national ‘mums love local’ campaign encouraging people to think local when they spoil their mum this Mother’s Day, supporting local businesses and the mums that work in them.
Sue Latcham is the manager of F.Hinds in Middlesbrough and says we need to shop local to keep our town centres thriving,
“We’ve been in Middlesbrough since 2015 and I’ve been managing the branch since 2019. We have our regular customers, and people often just pop by to say hello. F.Hinds has been on the high street since 1856 and is still a family business, selling jewellery, watches and gifts. I think the company’s family values and willingness to adapt has helped to see it through.
“When somebody steps foot into a jewellers, it’s for a nice reason, like buying someone you care for a piece of jewellery, and it is lovely hearing the stories and developing relationships with customers. You obviously want to get the best value you can, to try on the piece, and sometimes get a bit of help and support too. Often, what you think you want isn’t necessarily suitable, and the right advice and customer service is very important.
“Over recent years, I’ve noticed a change of focus by customers from internet led convenience and price to high street led service, value and quality. Customers are now directing their spend back to where they know they are getting the personal touch, from businesses they can trust.
“Shopping local is vital. People have busy lives but we need to keep our town centres thriving. It is always sad to see when a fellow business closes its doors for the last time. If we don’t use the stores in our town centres, we’re going to lose them. With Mother’s Day coming up, shopping local also shows that a bit of extra love and effort has gone into choosing that gift."
F.Hinds is one of over 40 businesses who are part of the Middlesbrough Gift Card.
Sue says that the gift card keeps the high street buoyant,
“Anything that makes our customers’ lives easier has got to be a good thing and I believe that the Middlesbrough Gift Card does that. It’s also great for collaboration. National brands, high street businesses and independents are all part of the high street. If any one of us isn’t there, it makes life harder for everyone. It’s important to keep the high street buoyant, and the gift card does that.
“Being a working mum can have its challenges. The main one is time but it’s good for my children to see that hard work pays off, and it also means that we value and appreciate our family time.
“My Mother’s Day involves seeing my mum with the kids. We’ll maybe go out to a pub or a restaurant, or even to the coast. If I had a Middlesbrough Gift Card, it would go towards a nice piece of jewellery, or maybe a nice dress for the summer. It’s a thoughtful gift because mums can shop local with lots of different businesses in Middlesbrough.
“If you get cash as a present, it goes in your purse and goes on petrol or the children’s dinner money. With a gift card, it’s a reminder to actually treat yourself, and that’s definitely the case with the Middlesbrough Gift Card.”
The Middlesbrough Gift Card launched in 2021 to support businesses reopening after the pandemic.
Lisa Templeman, Town Centre Officer at Middlesbrough Council said,
“We introduced the Middlesbrough Gift Card to encourage people to spend on our high streets, with both high street and independent businesses. As the gift card can be spent on anything from a trip to the theatre to a salon visit, new clothes to jewellery, dinner with the family to a night out, it really does cater to all ages and interests this Mother’s Day. Best of all, every gift card has to be spent here in Middlesbrough, supporting local businesses, local people and local jobs.”
Middlesbrough’s gift card is part of the award winning Town & City Gift Card initiative from Miconex active across the UK. Local gift cards giants Town & City Gift Cards are leading the national ‘mums love local’ campaign alongside Middlesbrough Council.
Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex,
“All types of local businesses – from family run high street stores like F.Hinds to independents – all contribute hugely to the vibrancy of our towns and cities. Our ‘mums love local’ campaign is a reminder that when we shop local, we’re also making a tangible investment in our local community, supporting our businesses and the people that work in them.”
Learn more about the 'mums love local' campaign
Visit F.Hinds
Source: The Jeweller