For Wild Oats, Bristol's oldest independent health and wellbeing store, local reputation and being part of the community is really important.
“We're well known for our customer service. That’s what really sets us apart from some of the big chains out there so, over the last 40 years, we have developed a very loyal customer base,” says Jordan Clements, Wild Oats’ Marketing Manager
But for Wild Oats, supporting local is equally important.
“We try and keep the miles that we get the products in from quite low,” continues Jordan, “so that in turn supports other local Bristol brands. It’s important for us to be at the heart of supporting local and ethical products.”
So, what works best for Wild Oats in terms of promoting the business?
“We’ve been here for so long that customer service and word-of-mouth has been the main way we've marketed ourselves,” she says. “It's only more recently that we've really pushed online marketing, digital marketing. We’ve done events where we have invited the local community in for free talks and to raise some money for charity. We also host a market day with other small businesses on our road. This brings even more awareness to the road that we're on, as we're kind of tucked away.”
The move online, though, is opening up a new customer base outside of Bristol.
“As an independent business, budget is quite tight for marketing. We’ve got a Google Pointy account which shows up local inventory on Google Shopping for local people. But now, with our e-commerce store, we are sending orders to Scotland, to the Isle of Man, wherever we can reach people online.”
Wild Oaks are also committed members of Bira, which is supporting this year’s Independents’ Day campaign.
“Being a Bira member has been important for the business. We've leaned on Bira for a few things, from legal advice to policies relevant to the store, it's a comfort to know that we've got someone to call for extra advice or to talk things through.”
And when it comes to supporting local indie shops this Independents’ Day weekend, Jordan has a clear message for Bristol shoppers:
“Independent shops care about you. They care about the whole chain, really. They care about the suppliers, what they're getting in the shop, who they're sending it to, and making sure that you've got exactly what you need. So, we need that support. That’s why we’re getting our heads together to see how we can help make the most of Independents’ Day this year in Bristol.”
Visit woats.co.uk
Instagram: instagram.com/wildoatsbristol
Facebook: facebook.com/wildoatsbristol
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