Independents come together to promote Kenilworth

Independent traders in Kenilworth have banded together to help deliver the best possible collective service to shoppers and visitors to the town.

Kenilworth Independents is an informal group which exists to support retailers in an additional but complementary way to the town's chamber of trade and Kenilworth Town Centre Partnership.

It's informality is deliberate. The group has no constitution or officers but meets regularly in one of the town's many thriving cafes and pubs to discuss how best to mutually support each other and offer their customers the best shopping experience.

It is the brainchild of Catherine Colby-Johnson, owner of sensory shop Aunty Agatha's in Talisman Square.

Catherine, who grew up in Waverley Road in the town, opened the shop in July 2014 and quickly realised that a great camaraderie among her fellow traders was there to be tapped into.

"We are an informal group committed to increasing footfall in Kenilworth by helping each other deliver the best possible experience for visitors," she said. "We get together for a coffee morning once a month but are always chatting to each other to see who needs what and how we can help each other.

"We hold regular activities. At Easter, 22 retailers were involved in our 'Bunny Hop' whereby children were given a town-centre trail and had to get their cards stamped, so it wasn't just a case of looking in the windows, they - and hopefully their parents - went into the shops. It was really successful."

Although the retailers involved in the Bunny Hop were small independents, prizes for it were donated by two of the town's big stores - Waitrose and Wilkinson's.

"We really appreciated that and it was a great example of all the town working together," said Catherine. "Kenilworth Independents are not an insular group. We work alongside the Chamber of Trade and the Kenilworth Town Centre Partnership, for whom Paul Garrison has been fantastic with us."

A busy summer of events in the pipeline includes a special bicycle-themed day in June to coincide with the Aviva Women's Tour cycle race passing through Kenilworth.

"To have the Women's Tour coming through Kenilworth is really prestigious for the town and a lot of us will be dressing up bikes appropriately to our businesses," said Catherine. "It will be a great way for us as a business community to get involved in what is a great day for Kenilworth."

For more information about Kenilworth Independents please contact Catherine at info@auntyagathas.co.uk