Town's crafty way to sales

The Lewes Artisans site aims to increase business for the town's many artists by bringing their work to the attention of online shoppers.

The site was launched two years ago by John Hinitt and Simon Dale, who thought an online directory of products and services would enable them to better promote local businesses, many of which don't use the internet, to a local audience.

Mr Dale, who maintains the site, said: "Some of our members aren't on email themselves and don't have the time or budget to consider their own web site so we give them their own page to showcase their skills and products.

The public can contact them directly or through us."

Robin Houghton, who helps run the site, said the site was meant for people who did things with their hands but had little or no experience of the internet.

She said: "A lot of them aren't on the internet and don't use email and that is exactly why they need a site like this to represent them in a way they otherwise wouldn't be."

Since the site was established, the number of Lewes Artisans window stickers in the town has mushroomed.

Mr Dale said: "We've been patiently building a name for ourselves and we're very proud we now have more than 60 of the town's finest artisans on the site.

"We run Lewes Artisans entirely on a voluntary basis, and its success is testimony to the cooperative and pioneering spirit we have here in Lewes."

Mrs Houghton said a recent survey showed about 35 per cent of businesses had won orders through the site, while many more had found sales leads.

The site comes up regularly in internet searches.

One recent inquiry was from a family in Yorkshire who were about to move to Lewes and looking for a local tradesman.

Although the site has spent the last two years recruiting members, it has now embarked on a drive to make the public more aware of the range of goods and services on offer.

Mrs Houghton said:

"There's so much happening here that's worth publicising."

www.lewesartisans.com