A business owner who uses his experience and relationships with local businesses to encourage people to use local independent traders says the future is looking bright for Barrow's high street.

Nick Emerson, director of INfurness local, created his business to protect, strengthen and further develop the local economy. Nick has a background in financial services, the media and health and fitness and has lived in many places such as London, Newcastle and Kendal. 

Nick is a Barrovian through and through and says there are a unique number of assets that the area has - which is flying in the face of the misconception that the traditional high street is doomed. 

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Nick said: "There have been a number of reasons shops on the high street have closed. There was not only the Covid pandemic but also the rise of online shopping and the cost of living crisis. 

"There have always been challenges however and there is a lot of negative speak about shops that are closed on the likes of Barrow's Dalton Road and Ulverston's Market Street, however this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"Shoppers have a lot of power and when people shop with worldwide corporations online or spend their money with supermarkets, this leads to a decline in footfall on high streets and town centres.

"If people spend money at independent and local businesses this spreads to other local industry sectors and the financial provision creating a recycleable income. Further opportunities are created for local people in the community and businesses can expand and invest."

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Nick started his business just before the Covid-19 pandemic but has seen first-hand how Furness high streets can and have bounced back. 

He said: "Furness has always been unique. We're isolated not only geographically but we've also been isolated financially with people making decisions for here that are further away.

"We've faced a lot of challenges and come back and that's created an amazing sense of community. We're unlike anywhere else, we're great exponents of our passion. We have many great businesses here.

"Jenny Stitches and AJA Babywear & Accessories made the move successfully from Barrow Market some time ago with Jenny transferring into a larger premises recently and now Coffee D’Ash is a newly set up business.

"The future looks good."