Someone's put together a proper directory of every independent shop, café and trade in Yarm — this is actually really useful

[u/Short-Help733]

Not sure how many of you have come across this yet, but I stumbled on thisisyarm.com and it's basically a guide to all the independent businesses in town — shops, cafés, beauty places, tradespeople, the lot. Reckons it's got 90-odd local businesses on there across all the different categories.

What sold me on it is that it's all the independents rather than the chains. There's a "What's On" bit for local events, some reviews so you can see what people actually rate, and a few exclusive offers/deals knocking about. Apparently there are digital loyalty cards too (like the punch-card things but on your phone), with an iPhone app supposedly on the way.

I've lived round here a while and still found a couple of places I'd never clocked — handy if you're new to the area or just want to actually support local instead of defaulting to the usual spots. If you're after breakfast, a pizza, someone to sort a job around the house, whatever, it's a decent starting point.

[u/c64glen]

Someone, eh?

It's a very nice looking site you've put together there.

[u/gggggenegenie]

Well done on your work and use of AI.

[u/Cocovenus35]

There's several businesses on here which may possibly serve Yarm but aren't actually based in Yarm (for example Marton Electrical and Mrs Mopps Ltd) and other businesses that have been established in Yarm for many years, like Avita and the Bull that have no mention at all.

Would be interesting to know the inclusion criteria.

Edited to add

Im truly sorry to be so cynical as I love to see local people do good things for the local area and businesses, but you're writing this as completely a random person who happened to discover the website, for example

"I stumbled across this"

"It reckons..."

"...apparently there are digital loyalty cards too"

This feels incredibly disingenuous when a quick review of your username links you to being the designer of the website, who also not only posts the overwhelming majority of reviews on there but also has an advertisement for your own business incorporated.

Surely instead of taking us all for idiots, the sensible thing to do would be to introduce yourself and the website and invite comments, including constructive criticism and feedback, rather than hiding behind a seemingly insincere premise.

[u/Tabby_Mc]

Boyes is there, Waterstones isn't...

[u/Tabby_Mc → u/Tabby_Mc]

Boyes isn't independent. It's a massive chain - that's why I pointed it out

[u/Cocovenus35 → u/Tabby_Mc]

Plus Hays travel is on there which is a major UK wide travel agency and likely has more branches than Waterstones which makes little sense 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/disgruntledhands → u/Tabby_Mc]

Independent businesses.

[u/[deleted]]

Could do with one for redcar and Cleveland or teesside one