Free online ordering app launched for Harrogate businesses

A new app has launched in Harrogate to give a boost to independent shops and businesses in the town.

ShopAppy.com comes free to the town for 12 months thanks to the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

Since full lockdown, most UK shops are now open for business. However, three in five (61%) of us feel less comfortable shopping in store than before lockdown and 18% of people are not keen to return to small High Street businesses until a vaccine is developed.

ShopAppy provides a platform to give small independent businesses an easy, effective way to operate and compete with online retail giants. It was founded by long-time independent business champion, Dr Jackie Mulligan and is supported by VISA.

ShopAppy provides a collective online shop window for every member town and village, encouraging customers to browse and visit, book, or buy with easy click and collect after hours and home delivery.

The platform is not just about shops. ShopAppy can help services, trades, B2B businesses, chefs, pop-ups, entertainers, and market stalls with bookings, click and collect, home delivery and can host virtual events to support local artists and producers to secure wider engagement.

Although many people have turned to large online companies for shopping during the pandemic, it seems many UK consumers are now also keen to support their local businesses through the crisis too. ShopAppy is now trying to make this much easier for local businesses and for shoppers.

Dr Jackie Mulligan says:

“We are delighted to be working in North Yorkshire and to be partnering with York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub on the launch of these five ShopAppy.com platforms. With our recently announced partnership with VISA helping us provide support to more small businesses across the UK, we are certain that this will provide a real and tangible benefit to local business and the community.”

Lesley-Marie from Beauty Galore (silk flowers) market stall in Thirsk and surrounding North Yorkshire towns says:

“ShopAppy is a great, extra way to promote my business around the local area. It gives me the help, advice, and a platform to build my portfolio and still give local customers the best-ever shopping experience.”

Andrew Raby, manager of the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, said:

“We’re currently offering free subscriptions to ShopAppy.com for local businesses as we see it as a great platform. By having goods and services available online, businesses are giving themselves added resilience for the future.

"There’s plenty of technical support too, such as weekly online drop-in sessions, so setting up couldn’t be easier. We’re really pleased to see the launch of five North Yorkshire towns on the site, which will put some great local businesses in the spotlight."