Watford teams up with WhatsApp to help local shops

Watford Borough Council has joined forces with WhatsApp to create the UK’s first ‘WhatsApp High Street’ to help local firms connect with customers.  

As part of the partnership, experts from WhatsApp are providing training for an initial group of 12 local businesses on Market Street – a popular and diverse shopping road in the town centre – training them on how to use WhatsApp to support their business.

Training will remain open for any small businesses in Watford interested in the scheme.

WhatsApp Business acts as a shopfront for a company’s products and services, and helps businesses communicate with their customers during the challenges presented by COVID, such as managing social distancing in small premises, new opening hours, stock issues, table reservations or reduced menus.

The announcement comes as new research commissioned by WhatsApp and conducted by YouGov of over 750 businesses in the UK reveals that almost two-thirds (65%) have experienced a drop in footfall to their premises since the pandemic first struck.

Among those businesses which have seen a reduction in footfall, customer unease over social distancing is seen as the main culprit (43%).

The majority (82%) of larger businesses have chosen to respond to the challenges by increasing their use of online tools during the pandemic, however less than half (48%) of the smallest companies have similarly increased their use of online tools over this period.

When asked what type of help they needed for their business to function effectively during the pandemic, help with improving customer communication (37%) topped the list, followed closely by the need for digital upskilling (33%) and marketing assistance (30%).

’’I’m delighted a global brand like WhatsApp has chosen to work with us on this initiative, which is the first of its kind in the UK,’ said Watford’s mayor, Peter Taylor.

‘Local businesses are vital to our economy, bringing jobs and so much character to our town. We are committed to working with them to ensure Watford’s economy succeeds as we open up after a difficult period of lockdown. Digital skills and new technology are at the heart of our plans for the borough, which is why we are helping local businesses to adapt to the new circumstances we find ourselves in.’

Photo Credit – LoboStudioHamburg (Pixabay)