Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 27 May 2020

DURHAM based entrepreneur, Andrew Bartlett, is hoping to keep Hinckley’s high street businesses connected to customers during this current pandemic.

Andrew Bartlett is the founder of the award-winning high street initiative, Roam Local, who aim to connect customers to businesses on the high street. Customers can create an account on Roam to receive updates from their favourite shops locally.

Andrew has successfully managed to partner with town centre business improvement districts across England including Durham BID, Stockton BID, Darlington, Chester-Le-Street and Barnard Castle, to get them using Roam in their respective areas.

Roam is already an award-winning app for town centres as they successfully picked up the prize at the Teesdale Business Awards for the “Best Marketing Initiative”.

Since the lockdown, Roam has seen the number of businesses claiming their free listing on the app rise so that they can keep customers up to date.

Andrew said: “Roam has been rolling out mostly in the north east of England, but since lockdown we have seen a huge increase in businesses claim their listing on Roam to get there offerings online.”

Roam allows customers to catch up with their favourite local independent businesses in the area, but it also provides the businesses with app led tools to keep up with major franchises and brands, such as Costa and Starbucks, Burger King.

Any business can register in the app and set themselves up with a listing, ranging from cafés, retail stores, restaurants and bars.

Even local shopping centres and shopping complexes are welcome to create their very own listing to keep those who care about their local communities in the loop with what is going on.

Roam provides an in-app messaging service as well as recommendations for venues tailored to a specific user’s interests and needs.

Andrew said that Roam’s mission was a simple one, to help high-street businesses and those in surrounding areas, to evolve their digital footprint online with a purpose-built platform.

Retail Consultant, Graham Soult, who has worked closely with Roam said: “When I first met Andrew last summer, I was struck by his warmth, integrity and drive, and his ambition to create something, in Roam, that can make a real positive difference to places across the UK and beyond.

“It’s been great to help Andrew spread the word about Roam over the last year. Now, as towns seek to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, digital tools like Roam will be more important than ever in helping businesses grow their following, communicate with customers and drive footfall.

“Any business anywhere can claim their Roam listing, but the real strength comes when businesses in a particular place join forces in a Roam Local campaign, sometimes led by an organisation such as a Business Improvement District, town team or business association.

“That way, a place like Hinckley can easily encourage a host of local businesses to get signed up to Roam, to help demonstrate to consumers the breadth and diversity of what the town offers.”

Businesses are able to share any news, offers, events, loyalty deals and discounts all in app to make it easy and efficient for customers.

If you are a business looking to learn more about Roam Local you can visit: www.roam-local.co.uk or contact info@roam-local.co.uk. with any queries regarding listings or other general enquiries.