STH WOODFORD: Website launched to boost trade (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

STH WOODFORD: Website launched to boost trade

11:38am Monday 13th February 2012 in Redbridge News By Sarah May Hayes

A WEBSITE which is hoped will boost struggling independent traders using the latest digital technology has been launched.

Set up by Oxford graduate Katherine Watson, the site provides 360 degree virtual tours of shops in South Woodford and aims to introduce businesses, which have seen trade hit by the economic downturn and the opening of the Westfield shopping centre in nearby Stratford.

It was officially launched during an event last Thursday (February 9) at patisserie Lily’s Indulgence in George Lane and already features five businesses.

Ms Watson, of Onslow Gardens, is excited to see how the website could grow.

She said: “I am really excited, I had been thinking about it for a long time and to see how many people are interested is brilliant. Everyone has been so positive about it.”

Lily’s Indulgence has already signed up for the website.

Owner Adrienne Vietro, 37, said: “I think this is going to be extremely beneficial to the community.

“I think it’s brilliant because I can’t use social media at all, I make cakes for a living, so this will really help us out.”

Karen Dunn, 32, who runs the Creative Biscuits ceramic parlour on George Lane, is also already a part of the growing online community.

She said: “Anything that promotes the Shop Local Campaign is really positive. All different kinds of shops banding together to show people what we have to offer is obviously a good thing.

“Katherine has done so well; it’s great that someone has put so much time and effort into promoting the area. She’s young but she is very smart.”

The former Classics student came up with the idea during a job interview at an advertising company.

She was asked to make as much money for £1 as possible, so spent the money on an iPad app that enables you to take 360 degree photos.

She made £50 from advertising 10 George Lane retailers on Facebook, and then used that money to launch the current website after being inspired by the Shop Local campaign.

“People from Woodfood Green have already approached me about setting up a website for them,” she said “Five years ago no one knew what Facebook was, and now people base their entire business on it.”

Visit the website at www.southwoodfordshopping.co.uk.