Portsmouth businesses wanted to trial new mobile app geared at making shopping safer

The Local My Stores software brings local high street shops to customers’ phones so they can shop, pay and click and collect or request a delivery.

Up to 27 businesses in Fratton, North End, Southsea and Albert Road will be invited to pilot the app in a Go Local partnership between Shaping Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council.

Traders will get free access to the app during the trial with experts on-hand to support them throughout.

Life-long Portsmouth resident Barrie Fricker, also the sales director of Local My Stores, said: “The new app is not just a solution for the high street, but it also allows customers to social distance and to keep safe.

‘Staff are also kept safe as by using the app, customers avoid queuing, and contact is limited.

‘As a Portsmouth resident, I know how important it is to support our local businesses, but during this global pandemic and times of uncertainty, it is also very important to keep safe.

‘The Local My Stores app is a solution to both of these problems. Having this app will be invaluable for those people who are quarantining or shielding and it will make local online ordering simple.’

The software announcement comes after the council revealed another new app, Contactless Menu, hoped to make the city’s hospitality industry safer and faster for customers and businesses.

Earlier in the summer, The News helped launched the #supportlocal campaign to highlight the need to help independent small businesses get back on their feet as lockdown eased.

Councillor Steve Pitt, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for culture, leisure and economic development, said: ‘As part of our commitment to support the local economy, we asked Shaping Portsmouth to work closely with businesses in some of our key areas to look at how they could do things differently and together for mutual benefit.

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‘Part of this involves looking at digital solutions – particularly to help our more vulnerable residents to continue to use their favourite local venues and shops.

‘We hope this app will be a way of supporting our smaller high street businesses to have an online offer and also help customers to feel more confident about supporting local shops.’

Stef Nienaltowski, chairman of Shaping Portsmouth, said: ‘If you own a shop in Fratton, North End, Albert Road or Southsea please come forward to take part in this pilot scheme.

‘There is no cost to you but many benefits and you will be fully supported throughout.’

Shop owners who want to take part in the pilot can find out more at localmystores.co.uk

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