Whether it’s tips on cleaning vinyl, or how to keep your plants alive while you’re on holiday, the friendly faces behind independent retailers across the country can offer you expertise that is hard to come by anywhere else

There’s a particular magic that can happen when we shop on our local high streets. Transactions become interactions and purchases can feel like lucky finds. Much of this is due to the genuine passion and know-how of local shopkeepers.

Earlier this year, Visa introduced readers to a virtual high street, featuring inspirational local shopkeepers who had been forced to rethink their businesses almost overnight in response to lockdown. We learned how each of them met the challenges of continuing to operate in a world where face-to-face shopping had almost ground to a halt.

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