Aberdeen Inspired has unveiled the wide range and variety of retailers lining up to be part of the first Shop Aberdeen weekend aimed at boosting the city centre.
So far, 35 businesses, from health and beauty to fashion and sports, have signed up for the campaign which will see unique offers, special discounts and some in-store events from Thursday, October 24, to Sunday, October 27.
And to make Shop Aberdeen even more attractive for customers and visitors, First Bus is offering 50% off two-trip tickets to make it easier and cheaper for people to get into the heart of Aberdeen.
Aberdeen Inspired has now published a full list of retailers taking part in Shop Aberdeen on its website and is encouraging more businesses to join in before sign ups close at midnight on Wednesday, October 16.
The list of participants includes a heady mix of local traders and well-known names such as Juniper, Lolo+Co, Hamish Munro, Linton & Mac, Kenny’s Music, Charles Michie’s Pharmacy, Aberdeen Vinyl Records, Style For Your Shape and Finnies The Jeweller, Copper & Grey and many more.
There are some High Street big names, too, such as New Look, Chisholm Hunter and Specsavers.
As well as discounts and offers, some stores, such as Style For Your Shape and Cancer Research UK, will be offering special late-night shopping events. Full details of all the offers and discounts, plus events, will be unveiled next week, ahead of the opening day of Shop Aberdeen.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said he was delighted by the response to the Business Improvement District’s first Shop Aberdeen event.
“The response from retailers in the city centre has been exceptional and underlines the need to promote and support the shops that are the lifeblood at the heart of Aberdeen,” he said.
“With so many taking part – and hopefully more joining in before the sign-up deadline closes – it will be over to people across the north-east to take full advantage of the offers and events available and come into the city centre to support Shop Aberdeen and our vital local shops.
“For this first outing we are laser-focused on the city centre and those retailers within our Business Improvement District footprint but if the Shop Aberdeen weekend proves to be the success we all hope it will be, then we will certainly look at how we can expand future events.”
Lauren Reid of Lolo + Co Boutique, an independent store on Union Street specialising in women’s fashion, said she was delighted to be in the mix for Shop Aberdeen.
She said: "Shop local is so important and Shop Aberdeen is the perfect opportunity to do that. We have to keep local businesses alive."
Graeme Masterton, the owner/director of Gamola Golf on Market Street, shared that enthusiasm.
He said: “We are delighted to be included within the new Shop Aberdeen campaign in order to help bring people back into the city centre and highlight some of the great independent retailers that we have in our city.
“We look forward to welcoming new and existing customers and hope that the additional promotional activity will be well received.”
Meanwhile, First Bus are offering a 50% discount on Two-Trip Tickets over the course of the Shop Aberdeen weekend to help boost the event.
Carolyn McTaggart, Senior Marketing Manager at First Bus Scotland, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the first Shop Aberdeen weekend – it’s a great initiative to encourage people to visit, shop and support traders in the city centre.
“We hope that people will take advantage of the half price bus travel with First Bus which can be received through the Aberdeen Inspired website, allowing them to make the most of what Aberdeen city centre has to offer while choosing public transport for a more sustainable way to travel.”
For full details of Shop Aberdeen, including the retailers taking part, how to take advantage of First Aberdeen’s 50% discount travel and other details of how to access the city centre, visit here