Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst is calling on Rochester and Strood's small shopkeepers to enter the Best Small Shops Competition, celebrating the creativity of small shops and the central role they play in their local community.
The Best Small Shops Competition is open to any small shop* operating in the UK. The competition is free to enter and all shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.
Shopkeepers can nominate their businesses until Sunday 9th September via www.bestsmallshops.co.uk. A shortlist of 25 of the most impressive applications will be shortlisted by a panel made up of established representatives from the independent retail industry.
The judges will be looking for evidence of a small shops’ entrepreneurial spirit, ways that they have been innovative in their business and what they have done to have a lasting positive impact on their community.
The shortlisted small shops will be invited to a Parliamentary Reception on the 13th November 2018 to meet their Member of Parliament and find out who will be crowned the Best Small Shop for 2018.
Kelly Tolhurst MP has said,
"Rochester and Strood is all about small, independent traders with most businesses in our community employing less than a handful of people so I want to call on these wonderful shops to put themselves forward for this competition and I will keep my fingers crossed for a local winner.
"I have had the pleasure of visiting so many of our small shops as the member of parliament, Rochester West councillor and as a lifelong resident of Medway and each have their own unique stories and products which deserve celebration."
Submit your entry
The entries for 2018’s Best Small Shop competition are now open. Submit your entry at www.bestsmallshops.co.uk.
Entries close on Sunday 9th September 2018.