Various £10 notes
The Magic Tenner initiative in Stoke-on-Trent city centre and Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre hopes to boost local economies.

Magic Tenner initiative to support local traders and offer deals for visitors 

1 min read

Independent businesses are being encouraged to take part in a campaign encouraging visitors to spend their money in local town centres. 

The national Magic Tenner event is an initiative by the Totally Locally organisation aimed at presenting various £10 deals from shops and businesses with the message to shoppers that £10 spent in a local independent can mean up to £50 going back into the local economy (based on a study from The New Economics Foundation). 

It follows on from a similar hugely successful event called Fiver Fest in previous years. 

Magic Tenner takes place from 7 to 21 October and is open to businesses across the hospitality, entertainment, health and beauty, services and retail industries. 

Over 30 businesses in Stoke-on-Trent city centre took part in Fiver Fest last year, and Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID is hoping even more will join in this time. 

Newcastle-under-Lyme BID is also encouraging businesses in the town to take part. 

BID Manager Charl Pearce said: “The BID are really excited to get involved in Totally Locally’s Magic Tenner campaign and help shine a light on how spending locally helps support the local economy.

“After being involved in previous campaigns such as Fiver Fest, we’ve seen first hand how successful these kind of initiatives can be. 

“Where this campaign isn’t just focused on shopping independently, it’s designed to raise more awareness of how shopping small can help money flow locally by supporting the supply chain of businesses we have on our doorsteps.

“These local supply chains are something that as a BID we place at the heart of our procurement process.  Where possible we strive to make conscious spending choices that support the businesses within the BID boundary, whether that’s from print marketing (Printed Gift House), event and production support (PH Productions), accounting (Thompson Wright) and the teams morning caffeine run (Piccoloco).

“Even at our recent awards evening, decorations were supplied by Card Factory, the bar was ran by Castletown Distillery and catering were Newcastle-under-Lyme-based Fresh2You.  Making these conscious spending decisions really does have a profound impact and is something we should all do as businesses and individuals.”

Business Engagement Officer David Breese, whose appointment was recently featured in Daily Focus, will be out visiting businesses to sign them up, or anyone interested can also email [email protected] as soon as possible to be included. 

Any city centre-based independent business wishing to get involved should email [email protected] before Friday, 29 September.  

  • The Magic Tenner campaign is sponsored by BIRA (The British Independent Retailers’ Association) who work as the voice of independent retail and other high street businesses. 

Hayley Johnson

Senior journalist with over 15 years’ experience writing for customers and audiences all over the world. Previous work has included everything from breaking news for national newspapers to complex business stories, in-depth human-interest features and celebrity interviews - and most things in between.

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