Parmiter's Antiques, Southsea Stars in Visa Christmas Campaign

Visa digital payments is turning the spotlight on 100 independent retailers across the UK in the run-up to Christmas 2018, including promotion for 11 retailers in Portsmouth, Southampton & Brighton.

One of the Portsmouth-based independents featuring in Visa’s festive campaign is Parmiter’s Antiques in Albert Road. Parmiter’s has long been known for being the go-to location for alternative shopping, unique stocking fillers, and rare items.

 Ian Parmiter, co-owner of Parmiters, said: “Having ran the business with just my wife, Sue, for the past 30 years, we are strong advocates for our street and are always celebrating Southsea’s independence and eccentricity. Our customers are so diverse — some days we are dealing with rag-and-bone men and other days Lords and Ladies!”

With this latest campaign the digital payments giant is switching the focus of the traditional format of a Christmas marketing campaign, from what people are buying or who they are buying for, to where they are buying — encouraging shoppers to support their high streets, independent retailers, and local communities this Christmas.

The festive campaign features real shopkeepers from some of Britain’s most loved high streets. In Southampton, Portsmouth & Brighton, the independent retailers are being celebrated across roadside billboards and social media as part of Visa’s campaign.

 Research, commissioned by Visa, shows that four out of five (81%) shoppers would miss the high street shopping experience if it was no longer there. The Christmas campaign builds on Visa’s sponsorship of the Great British High Street Awards 2018, the winners of which were announced last week and can been seen here »

Adrian Farina, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Europe at Visa, said: “We know high streets up and down the country are a special place for communities to come together – especially at Christmas time. As payments technology continues to evolve, Visa has an ongoing commitment to high streets and to the retailers and consumers on them who are looking to engage in seamless and secure commerce.

“We’re thrilled to be featuring 100 independent retailers nationwide on billboards in their local area and on social media in the run-up to Christmas. We hope the nation will join us in supporting their local High Street and the independent retailers that make them so special.”