Birmingham City Council have launched a major initiative designed to help promote independent retailers in Acocks Green and across the city.

The People Make Places campaign will help to promote local shopping areas, focusing on the independent shops. Central to the Birmingham initiative is the introduction of a free special card, known as the B Card, which will give Birmingham residents special offers and discounts at participating independent businesses during the month of October.

Acocks Green Village, summer 2011

Participating stores will display ‘Backing Birmingham’ signs in their windows, with many businesses already signed up to take part in the scheme.

Councilor, Timothy Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and Regeneration at Birmingham City Council said: “It’s time to take pride in our communities, to make the most of our strengths and acknowledge that it is Birmingham’s people who make these places special. We hope that this campaign will encourage everyone to enjoy the great things that their community has to offer and, with the B Card initiative, encourage them to support their local independents.”

Look out for advertisments and posters featuring local people, appearing soon.

Leaflets promoting individual areas and their businesses will also be distributed across the City. Each leaflet will include a B Card and explain how the card can be used.

B cards are available to any resident of Birmingham. Also cards can be obtained by visiting www.BackingBirmingham.com or by cutting out the card on newspaper advertisements.

You can use your B Card in any outlet displaying a ‘Backing Birmingham’ sticker and there will be a regularly updated list of participating stores at www.BackingBirmingham.com where you also have the chance to win £100 to spend locally.

Any independent outlet who would like to find out more about the campaign can visit the website or call 0121 472 9009 for their free point of sale kit, while stocks last. There is no charge to take part and retailers and outlets can decide what special offers they would like to give to B Card holders.

Rachel James of Rachel’s Salon in Acocks Green said of the scheme:
“I think it’s a brilliant idea. This is my first business, and we only opened 3 ½ months ago so I’m fully behind anything that helps local businesses get more customers. I think Acocks Green has everything for shoppers in one small space.”

Acocks Green Neighbourhood Forum is interested to hear your experiences. Have you got a B Card? What do you think of the scheme? Are you one of the businesses taking part? We want to know more about how this initiative is working in Acocks Green village so share your comments with us.