Call comes as businesses prepare to fly the flag for Scotland Loves Local Week with Discover Lanark among its supporters

An independent record shop owner has highlighted the critical need for everyone across Lanarkshire to back local businesses.

Ian McDonald, of Cosmic Grooves in Lanark, is urging everyone in the region to fly the flag for local businesses as part of Scotland Loves Local Week, which starts on Saturday (June 13).

The South Vennel store and music room, which supports community activities as well as selling vinyl records and other music products, has been open only a matter of months.

But Ian, who has a professional background in community development, is in no doubt about the importance of local support to the future of Cosmic Grooves and all other local enterprises.

He said: “I wanted to do something in the town that’s my home and this felt like the perfect opportunity. We’re a community interest company, so all surpluses that we make will be reinvested into the community, so it’s a really positive effect for everyone.

“We’re finding people travelling from far and wide to visit the shop, which people are glad to see in Lanark, but support from local people is vital for us.

“Our model means that when people support us, we’re directly supporting our community, including creating activities and opportunities for younger people. I’m also really interested to see how the model of what we’re trying to create goes out to other local businesses. There’s real strength in people coming together to act.”

Discover Lanark Business Improvement District (BID) is once again supporting Scotland Loves Local week, the theme for which this year is Flying The Flag For Local Businesses.

As national pride hits a high with Scotland kicking off its World Cup campaign in the USA this weekend, Scotland Loves Local leaders are encouraging people across the country to celebrate local pride too.

By doing so, they say that everyone can help to safeguard enterprises, protect jobs and give places a platform to flourish.

Scotland Loves Local - spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) with support from the Scottish Government -  is the drive for people to build stronger, more sustainable futures for their community by supporting the businesses in their area.

Kimberley Guthrie, STP’s Chief Officer, said: “Discover Lanark does a fantastic job in flying the flag for local businesses all-year round, which we are urging everyone to do.

“It is easy to underestimate the impact of local people supporting local businesses, and local businesses supporting one another. Yet every one of us can play a remarkable role in driving community wealth and building stronger, more resilient communities simply by choosing to do so.”

Hamilton Our Town BID is also supporting Scotland Loves Local Week and held a warm-up event in the town centre on Saturday (June 6).

STP last year estimated that almost £35m more could be driven directly into Lanarkshire’s economy if everyone in the region spent just £1-a-week extra with local businesses - £17.7m in North Lanarkshire and £17m for South Lanarkshire