We are a local directory. Our aim is to support the local
community, and - by delivering to people the information that they need
- helping local residents to know the products and services available
within their community. So many times we hear of people using
contractors from outside the area, or buying products from distant
towns simply because they did not know that they were available locally.
We
have all done it; perhaps because we happen to be in another area at
the time and it’s convenient, but we know that most people prefer to
buy locally, and that if they don’t it’s often because they were
unaware that someone locally could help them.
‘Your Little Black
Book’™ was born in January 2008 with the first issue hitting your
doormats in the spring of 2008. It was a huge time for us; would
people share our views and believe in their communities?
Well,
we are very gratified to know now that they most certainly do - with
bells on! Local businesses would much rather deal with their neighbours
and likewise local residents want to shop for all types of products and
services locally. Since January 2008 we have not looked back, and as
the name has grown so has the response.
Where next?! We love the idea of promoting local products and
services to local people; our vision would be to have a ‘Your Little
Black Book’™ in every village and every town across the UK to help
local business support their communities. How likely that is we shall
have to see, but it’s certainly what drives us forward.
Let’s
face it; we are not re-inventing the wheel. This has been done before,
although we like to think that we do it differently. ‘Your Little
Black Book’ is one of those “does what it says on the tin” kinds of
things: no pretences; nothing fluffy; it is simply local companies and
community services telling local people about what they do.
It’s
a directory, it’s retained because it’s just that and we know for
certain that people don’t keep it just because they like us, or because
they think the directory looks great. We are more than aware that
people keep it because it’s useful and that given the choice, local
people would always prefer to buy locally, and that - let’s not forget
- local businesses are very good at what they do.
With
changing technologies it is also obvious that more and more people will
search for information via the internet, and that is why we have now
produced an electronic version of “Your Little Black Book”™, for that
sector of the community, probably much younger, who will prefer to
explore that way. Through this we are able to develop a whole host of
new facilities to help everybody find and communicate with each other.
Now
if you’re not asleep and are still reading this, we would like to talk
to you more about “local” and what else it means. If we can all do our
bit to stay local there are many, many other advantages. Forget the
fact that for any village or town to survive it’s imperative that we
shop locally. The quickest way to end a community is to stop giving
local shops and service providers a reason to stay.
Let’s look
at the environment: we can’t say that we know exactly how much benefit,
not travelling miles to buy something will make to the planet or what
difference we make by not asking service providers to drive for miles
to see us, but it must have some positive impact, however big or
small. If we can have a ‘Your Little Black Book’™ in every village
then we are pretty sure that it will make quite a difference.
We
like the local community; we like getting to know our shopkeepers and
service providers along with other local people that make just popping
out to the shops quite fun. We would hate to think that one day we
will hardly venture outside our front doors for anything, and we will
only meet delivery people who we will probably see only once in our
lifetimes, or non-local service providers that don’t know our village,
let alone us.
Thank you for taking the time to read all about us.