“As a local lad who has grown up on the Wirral, I wanted to create a community that shouts about our local independents, run by local people.”
Adam Fenley is on a one-man mission to get us supporting the Wirral's traders through Wirral Spend Independent (WSI), a project that both promotes local businesses and opens up exclusive discounts and offers from those same independents to signed-up members.
Flashing your Wirral Spend Independent card at more than 100 participating local cafes, restaurants, barbers, salons, shops, entertainment venues and more is all you need to do – it’s as simple as that.
“I set up Wirral Spend Independent in lockdown to help support small business owners but also reward customers for shopping locally,” Adam tells us.
A one-off payment of £12 or a renewable annual subscription for the same price gets members a jazzy card with designs updated every year (the current pictured card has been designed by local mural artist Andrew Wolfenden with last year’s graphic created by New Brighton’s Toucan Tango).
Becoming a member also helps to support local charities as well as our entrepreneurs, too, with 10% of every WSI membership purchase donated to the Open Door charity.
“I’ve also created a directory of local independents for people to discover through Wirral Spend Independent's Instagram page, website and through our app with its interactive map,” Adam adds.
Investing £1.99 a month or opting for the £19.99 premium membership unlocks Adam’s WSI app, which further widens discounts and offers to card holders from independents across the Left Bank and wider Wirral.
You won’t hear us complaining. We think it’s a great way to travel around the Left Bank and discover all the amazing things happening on this side of the Mersey – why not get 10% off at Social 114 before helping yourself to a discount on one of Wylde’s devilishly delicious treats?
Getting some new threads at Oxton Boutique isn’t a bad way to spend the afternoon, while the more adventurous might use their WSI card to get some sharp new inks at True Love Tattoo. Rounding it all off with a pint at Rockpoint Records sounds good to us.
"Wirral Spend Independent couldn't have come as far as it has without the amazing support and enthusiasm of businesses throughout the area who have joined in,” Adam says when we ask him about the impact of his venture, “and it's really exciting that we're all able to grow together as a community.”
