A Carmarthenshire jewellery business is behind the seventeenth day of a Twitter advent calendar celebrating Britain’s independent high street retailers in the run-up to Christmas.
The social media countdown has been launched by NatWest as part of its support for Visa’s #WhereYouShopMatters campaign, which aims to encourage more shoppers to visit their local high street and shop locally this Christmas.
From gift shops to bakeries, the calendar will profile a different local retailer from across England and Wales each day.
Tuesday’s (Dec 17) festive treat is Mari Thomas Jewellery on Rhosmaen Street in Llandeilo.
Mari is a contemporary designer jeweller and goldsmith who established her first workshop in 1998. During her career she has won numerous design awards including the Gold Medal for Craft and Design at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and is listed in the prestigious who’s who directory of leading jewellery designers at the Goldsmiths Company London.
She opened the doors of her gallery and workshop in Llandeilo in 2012 and it is one of the many independent high street retailers that the campaign hopes to help.
Mari said: “The high street is absolutely essential for UK business. Its more than just a row of shops, it’s the place to find individual and interesting goods and products. It’s the heart of the community, somewhere to socialise, an outlet for supporting local talent, manufacturers and suppliers. It supports and grows the local economy, provides jobs and shopping locally reduced the carbon footprint which is good for the environment.”
The business has been supported by Paul Dunne, one of NatWest’s Business Banking Relationship Managers for Mid and West Wales.
He said: “The advent calendar is about celebrating the amazing work of independent retailers like Mari who make our high streets what they are. They work tirelessly throughout the year and bring so much creativity and diversity to our local towns and cities. That is why we’re really proud to support these businesses and just as importantly, the people behind them.”
Research commissioned by Visa found that seven out of ten consumers (73%) say that shopping locally makes them feel happy, with two fifths (42%) citing supporting local shops and knowing where their money is going as the main reason why.
You can follow the NatWest advent calendar at @NatWestBusiness.
