The #FingalInItTogether Campaign was launched in the wake of COVID19. It aimed to bring a sense of support and solidarity to small businesses affected by the closures and uncertainty of the pandemic. It rallied a sense of community spirit to encourage the Fingal community and their local businesses to support each other through this difficult period.
The campaign focused on the importance of #ShopLocal and encouraged all of Fingal to think about their consumption patterns and to try to shop local whenever possible across the wide variety of amazing local businesses in the Fingal area. Through speaking directly with local businesses about their story we learned about the difficult times they were facing. But we were delighted to see that so many businesses had ambition, drive and a strong belief that their business and local community would come through on the other side of this pandemic. Businesses were encouraged to sign the In It Together Charter and be listed in the Fingal.ie Business Directory so that local people could find them easily.
We worked on the campaign throughout the year and in the approach to Christmas, really kicked up a gear to promote shopping local for Christmas. The Fingal County Council website hosted a Christmas Shopping Directory featuring local small businesses. Bus shelters and parks featured Shop Local Adverts. The Shop Local brochures we had created for each town and village in Fingal over the summer were collated into an electronic Christmas Shopping Guide. A targeted social media campaign promoted shopping local and featured a selection of videos, messages and products for local businesses. Santa even landed at Swords Castle for a special singalong show and reminded all the children and grown ups of Fingal to #ShopLocal.
What we really learned from this campaign was that you cannot underestimate the power of community, especially when they get behind an initiative with a common goal, ambition and message which is that we will get through this difficult period because we’re #InItTogether.
Wishing you a safe, peaceful and restful Christmas and here’s to a better year ahead!