Frome’s independent shops lead the way!

Retail business in Frome appears to be holding its own against competition presented by online and out-of-town shopping. 

If, as it seems, Frome is bucking the trend it will certainly be due to the independent shops, cafes and restaurants that lead the way, offering exclusive, unusual and specialist goods and services which attract a loyal following of customers.

Frome Town Council works extensively with local businesses through a monthly retail group, and on an annual basis conducts a benchmarking survey which compares the town centre with other similar sized market towns across the UK.

In past years the survey has shown Frome to be in a good position with a low number of vacant commercial properties and a healthy and vibrant town centre. Results from the 2015 benchmarking survey are expected in March.

Town centre business owners were invited to give their views on trade in 2015, the response rate was excellent and the Town Council would like to thank business owners for the time taken to help build a picture of the town’s performance.

As a thank you to the retailers who completed the survey the Town Council organised a prize draw with a wonderful La Strada Christmas hamper as the prize, the lucky winner was Ellen Porteous of The River House Café: a relatively recent but blossoming addition to Frome’s diverse collection of coffee shops and eateries.

Town centre coordinator Mark Brookes said, “It’s great that The River House Café won this year’s prize draw, they are a great example of local people setting up and running a successful business in the town centre.  The town is full of similar independent success stories and we hope that Frome continues to thrive and be seen as an example of how to buck the trend and be successful whilst keeping business local.”