The Support for Independent Retail campaign is urging small retailers and towns across the UK to organise and run Easter egg hunts in their areas, as the annual Enjoy an Independent Easter event marks its third year.
The Easter event is designed to improve footfall to village, town and city centres around the country, as retail parks and out-of-town establishments continue to lure shoppers away from local high streets.

"Even though independent retailers are only just beginning to recover from the Christmas period, it is now time to start planning ahead for Easter," said Support for Independent Retail founder Clare Rayner.

"Enjoy an Independent Easter is a great activity to get people shopping locally. It's fun for all the family and it will make sure that those consumers are aware of the fantastic, unique shops that can be found right on their doorsteps."

The Easter egg hunt invites consumers to collect Easter egg stickers from participating independent retailers. Once they have collected all of their stickers, they win a special Easter treat - and in some areas can be entered into a prize draw.

The activity is intended to run throughout an area's school Easter holidays, so that adults and children alike can join in the fun and explore their local shops.

Consumers are not required to buy anything when they collect their stickers: the purpose of the campaign is to highlight the great customer experience they can find in smaller shops.

"It's absolutely vital that independent retailers get involved and help to organise an Easter egg hunt for their area," Ms Rayner went on. "Footfall statistics across the last year were incredibly disappointing for high streets and shopping centres, so independent retailers were among the many that missed out.

"That shouldn't be the case - independent retailers are a vital part of the UK's shopping scene, and consumers need a gentle nudge to remind them to spend with their local shops."

To find out more visit www.indieeaster.co.uk.