Former lecturer making a stand for the high street
Jackie Mulligan, formerly director of enterprise at Leeds Beckett University, is hoping to “level the playing field” for independent high street shops competing against big chains and online giants with the launch of web platform ShopAppy.
Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, she said: “ShopAppy is a new website that brings all your local shops together in one place. It makes it easier for customers to find and support their local shops because it also combines a click and collect service.”
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Hide AdMs Mulligan came up with the concept of ShopAppy after becoming concerned at the sight of some small shops in her hometown of Saltaire closing down.
“I don’t want to live in a place, which only has a few types of business on the high street,” she said. “I’m lucky to live near a baker, a butcher, a grocer, clothes shops, gift shops, design shops and art shops. All of those things are right on my doorstep and I’m really worried that we’re going to lose that in all of our towns if we don’t do more to support them.”
People want to support local independent businesses but many of them struggle to find the time to do so, the former academic said.
“There’s a really strong leaning towards more and more independent shopping,” Ms Mulligan said.
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Hide Ad“We like the fact that our high streets exist, just as we like the fact that our libraries exist, but we don’t necessarily use them and then when they go we protest,” she added.
Ms Mulligan hopes that the click and collect function on ShopAppy will allow busy working people a way to support their local high street.
“I know that, as a busy career woman, it’s really difficult to have the time to shop local,” she said. “What ShopAppy does is provide that solution so I don’t have to think my only choice for convenience is Amazon or a supermarket.”
The click and collect function allows shoppers to place their orders and either pick them up from a designated point that is open during the evening, such as a pub, or go into the high street shop at their convenience.
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Hide AdHowever, the primary purpose of ShopAppy is to drive footfall into the high street, acting as an online shop window for local independents.
Ms Mulligan said: “We all have to realise that we are living in an increasingly digital world but what ShopAppy does, as opposed to anything else on the market, is it’s using online to drive footfall.”
Before launching ShopAppy, Ms Mulligan consulted with several shopkeepers and found that one of the reasons why they set up on the high street was for the face-to-face interaction.
She said: “They don’t want to be in a business where they don’t see people. They’ve set up on our high street and in our markets because they want to interact with people.”
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Hide AdThere is a need for the high street as it provides a place for communities to meet and creates a sense of belonging.
Ms Mulligan said: “What I get very scared of is that the more we disconnect from our communities and our towns then how do we feel a part of something?
“You can see it with towns where it has gone too far, where there are To Let signs everywhere and there’ll be a couple of charity shops and that’s it. There’s no sense of pride in where you live anymore.”
She says there’s also an economic argument to supporting local high streets, as many independent businesses hire local people, use local suppliers and also contribute business rates.
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Hide AdMs Mulligan, who hopes ShopAppy will create a balanced ecosystem of independent shops on the high street, said: “If we have a town full of cafes, how do you expect the cafes to survive?”
From town to town
Web platform ShopAppy has so far been rolled out in Saltaire, Shipley and Otley.
“We have another 16 towns that have started to register in different parts of the country,” said Jackie Mulligan.
The former director of enterprise at Leeds Beckett left the university in August to “pursue this passion”.
While at Leeds Beckett Ms Mulligan used to do a lot of commentary around technology. “Now it’s exciting to be a part of that movement,” she said.
ShopAppy can be found at https://shopappy.com/