BLACKBURN businesses are being given the opportunity to take part in a cyber weekend sale that will begin on Black Friday this month and aims to boost Christmas spending in the North West.

GB Shared Ltd, a network of countywide sales platforms founded by Darwen based CEO Lisa Edge, hopes that the sales event will encourage customers to buy local and boost traders at a time when they need it most, with many businesses having been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

To this end, GB Shared limited with the help of Attain Digital has set up TheShareShop.co.uk which will help local businesses sell their products online and will help customers find locally sourced products in the run up to Christmas and for a four dale sales period from Black Friday on November 27 to Cyber Monday on November 30.

Ms Edge said: “We simply had to do something about the current situation.

“Our membership is vast across the North-west and includes public and private sectors, large, medium and small businesses, councils, colleges and chambers.

“We stand united in supporting our region.

“Far too many businesses are now struggling as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and many more want to help support them.”

More than 100 buyers have already pledged their support to buy local with products on offer ranging from mobile phones and tablets to craft items, gift vouchers, getaways, cards and calendars.

The sharing network for Lancashire, known as Lancashare, has been running since 2016 helping customers and businesses share local jobs, news, funding, tenders and connections to help local supply chains and boost employment.

The current situation has heightened the need for supportive networks and Ms Edge hopes that it will help support businesses through what could be a difficult Christmas period.

She said: “The Share Shop will help us facilitate that collaboration and, hopefully, send some much-needed sales in the direction of these businesses at Christmas.”

To visit the Share Shop, go to: TheShareShop.co.uk.