Enjoy Penwortham is a marketing campaign created to help local businesses recover from months of closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Devised by marketing agency boss Lee Petts, the campaign will see a one-off tabloid-sized newspaper produced and distributed to all 8,867 local homes, giving participating businesses a unique chance to tell their lockdown stories.

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Businesses will be able to explain the changes they’ve made to ensure that their premises are COVID-secure, and to encourage residents to return to their high streets to safely enjoy the shops, bars, eateries and beauty salons that make the town such a desirable place to live.

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The campaign has already attracted the backing of businesses like Booths which operates a supermarket on Millbrook Way.

John Gill, head of marketing and trading, said: “Booths are really pleased to support the Enjoy Penwortham campaign.

“We pride ourselves on being part of the local community, and being involved gives us an opportunity to support other local businesses and customers during what have been, and continue to be, unprecedented times.”

Jen Maudsley, a single mum-of-two that owns hair and beauty business Meraki Beauty, said: “Independent local businesses like mine have really suffered during COVID lockdown.

“We need all the help we can get when it comes to rebounding. The Enjoy Penwortham initiative will put my brand in front of an enormous audience in a way that I just couldn’t afford on my own, and give me a chance to attract customers that might not otherwise have found me.”

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Lee, who runs Preston-based PR and marketing business 52M Consulting, said: “I’ve lived in Penwortham for 16 years, and I absolutely love it here. It’s really begun to flourish recently, with a host of new businesses opening including shops, bars and restaurants.

“After being forced to close for months, and unable to earn a penny, many of them will have undoubtedly suffered.

“While things are also a bit quieter than usual for us, I wanted to pour our expertise, creative thinking and connections into a scheme that would help Penwortham businesses to survive and thrive.

Find businesses open in your area below

“We decided that the best way to do that would be to provide businesses with a way of getting in front of Penwortham’s 18,000 adult residents that doesn’t rely too heavily on the internet and social media.

“A newspaper has a much better chance of being seen by people of all ages and is more likely to remain visible in each household for longer.

“The focus is on encouraging local people to get out, support and enjoy the town’s businesses, but to do so safely and sensibly, especially in light of increased COVID-19 restrictions recently introduced in Preston and other parts of Lancashire.”

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It is hoped that the newspaper will be ready for publication and circulation by mid-September, but will only proceed if enough local businesses get involved.

Penwortham retailers, hair and beauty salons, pubs, bars, restaurant and cafe owners are all invited to take advantage of the Enjoy Penwortham campaign and are being encouraged to sign up here.

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Are you a local businesses owner? Share your experience of adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic in the comments below.