People encouraged to spend their Christmas money at Teesside shops
Many people will have been gifted some extra cash yesterday
Last updated 1st May 2025
We are being encouraged to spend our Christmas money at local, independent businesses in Teesside.
Many people will have been gifted some extra cash yesterday.
Jason Maxwell, manager of Stockton BID, said: "You'll find lots and lots of retailers are definitely open. I think some of the retailers in bigger places have decided that they won't open, but here in Stockton, it's a normal day shopping day for us, so there will be places open and there'll definitely be bargains to be had. We'd definitely encourage people to come down and spend their hard earned money and come and grab a bargain if they can.
"I think Boxing Day's one of those where traditionally people want to get out of the house. Other people will be having their Christmas money that they've been given, so hopefully there'll be coming to their local businesses and supporting our independent businesses with any cash that they've been given, because of course you can't spend cash online, and come and spend any vouchers in town.
"It's so massively important that we go out and support our local independent businesses. It's vital that people continue to support, like they do all of the year, but it's massively important, particularly at this time of the year, that people go out and support their independent businesses because we still know if you spend in your local economy, the money tends to stay in the local economy.
"Sometimes I think if you come out into your independent businesses, you see those people that own the businesses. You have a personal interaction and you get to know a little bit about the people behind the front door of that shop. If you always go to the same big high street retailer that has 1,000 units up and down on the high street, you don't get that same personal interaction."