In the south west corner of the town lies one of Bridport's best kept secrets. St Michael's Trading estate, an old industrial net and rope-making area is home to a diverse and colourful range of independent businesses.

Named Bridport's Art & Vintage Quarter, this part of town has nurtured a wide range of enterprises where shoppers can find almost anything – from washing machines and antique porcelain to original artwork and soul food.

St Michael's businesses are all independent. Haywards, who bought the estate in 1968, estimate that there are 140 occupants trading as self-employed and small businesses with 130 people working full time.

From March to October, that figure swells as traders are invited to set up stalls in the Vintage Market held on the last Sunday of the month – the next one set for March 26.

Bridport Totally Locally team member Harrison Morton, of The Decorator Centre, is putting a call out for more businesses in the St Michael's area to join their Magic Tenner campaign, with Magic Tenner Local Shopping Weeks to promote independent, local businesses planned to take place in Bridport in May.

The event is offering the chance for locals to win a range of products, experiences and services as a reward for regularly shopping locally. It's hoped that the campaign will introduce shoppers to businesses new to them and promote the wealth and range of what's on offer in Bridport.

Harrison said: "Our latest poster includes a furniture centre, an auction house, a wine shop and a climbing centre, only a short walk from the high street. It's just a case of nipping down an alley or a crossing a road, we want to encourage people to venture off the beaten track."

Totally Locally Bridport have extended the deadline to join the local shopping weeks in May. Any Bridport independent business wanting to take part can sign up at the Tourist Information Centre or email [email protected]

What is the Magic Tenner message?

The 'Magic Tenner' campaign is part of the national Totally Locally 'Town Kit', which was created by brand expert Chris Sands.

The 'Town Kit' is a free-to-use, grass-roots resource which towns across the UK and internationally have used successfully to bring life back to their high streets. 

The idea behind it is, that if shoppers spend £10 in a shop that sells goods from local producers, the amount of money that goes back into the local economy can be over £50.

For example:

• Imagine picking up a pie for your lunch
• If you buy a local-made pie from a local shop, a big part of your money is passed on to the local piemaker
• The shop employs a local accountant or even a decorator. In turn, the piemaker, who sources his ingredients from a local farm, spends a big percentage of his money with the farmer 
• The farmer then spends some of his money at his local garage, and so on...

With each step, about 80% of each spend goes into the local economy.

The Magic Tenner Campaign helps businesses to show just how many local suppliers they have with simple posters, banners and messages and encourages all local, independent businesses to get involved – whether they are on the high street or not. 

For more details, visit totallylocally.org/2015/02/the-magic-tenner-message