Salford council removed a social media post urging residents to skip the high street for christmas shopping after a swift backlash, demonstrating the challenges public bodies face navigating social media messaging.
Holiday Shopping Advice Backfires for Salford Council
December 15, 2023 – Salford council is facing criticism after a social media post advised residents to avoid crowded stores and shop online rather, a message that sparked concerns about the potential harm to local businesses.
- The council initially advised residents to shop online rather of visiting town centers.
- The post was quickly removed following negative feedback from the public.
- Officials stated the message was intended as a joke but acknowledged it missed the mark.
- Councillor Bob Clarke emphasized the importance of supporting local shops, especially given current economic pressures.
Salford council faced criticism after posting a message on social media suggesting residents avoid in-person Christmas shopping. The post read, “If you’ve still got Christmas shopping to do, and you’re planning to go to town or elsewhere, sack it off and do it online instead, it’s gonna be hammered now.” The council quickly removed the post after it drew criticism.
A council spokesperson explained, “Unluckily, on this occasion, the tongue-in-cheek tone was slightly off. It was not intended to cause concern, but we responded quickly and removed the post.” one commenter criticized the advice, stating the council should be “supporting local businesses not encouraging locals to avoid them.”
Local Leaders Weigh in
Councillor Bob Clarke, leader of the Salford Conservative group, stated, “We should be supporting our local shops as best as possible, and probably think things through before pressing the send button.” he added that the message was “slightly inappropriate, especially with the problems businesses are having with the current government with business rates and consumer confidence.”
The council spokesperson highlighted previous efforts to support local businesses, noting that just two weeks prior, thay featured shopping locally on social media, linking to Small Business Saturday and free Saturday parking initiatives. These posts reached over 22,000 accounts,generating important engagement.
The spokesperson also referenced the council’s “Home is on your High Street” campaign from 2022, an award-winning initiative aimed at revitalizing local high streets following the COVID-19 pandemic. Salford council affirmed its continued strong support for local high streets and shopping within the community.
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