Nearly nine-in-ten Scots say they must shop local to ensure high streets thrive

We were delighted to work with Scotland Loves Local on a national poll of adults on shopping locally.  The poll of almost 1,400 Scottish adults found that:

  • 85% agree it’s vital that people in their community support businesses on the local high street. 46% strongly agreed with the statement – an increase of 5% compared to 2021.
  • 93% fear there’s a strong chance that many local high street businesses will go under if people do not support them.
  • More than two-thirds (73%) believe choosing local reduces unnecessary journeys and helps tackle the climate crisis.
  • Three-quarters (77%) agree that choosing local keeps money in their local area for longer, improving quality of work and life
  • 91% recognise that choosing local supports local jobs and employment opportunities.

The findings have been released as Scotland Loves Local Week (August 28th – September 3rd) gets underway, with various events and activities taking place across the country to rally support and highlight transformational work taking place in communities.

Mhairi McFarlane, our Senior Researcher said:

“Despite overwhelming agreement from Scots about the importance of high streets, 93% of us are concerned that many local businesses will disappear if we don’t support them.

This is a stark reminder that our support can be essential in offering a lifeline that could make or break the future of high streets across Scotland. This should be a clear signal that action is needed to ensure they can not only survive but can thrive in future.”

Find out more about Scotland Loves Local Week by clicking here.

by scottedgar