Free event to help Yorkshire food and drink businesses to create ‘gift experiences’ and grow hosted by Yorkshire Mark & Uniquely Local

Independently owned food and drink businesses from across Yorkshire are invited to attend a free event to find out how creating ‘gift experiences’ can generate new business as the cost of living crisis continues to impact consumer spending. Hosted by Yorkshire food and drink provenance brand, The Yorkshire Mark and gift experience provider, Uniquely Local, the event will be held at Yorkshire Heart Vineyard on Tuesday 4^th July between 2.30pm – 5.30pm.

Since the pandemic, spending on customer and gift experiences has seen an upsurge in popularity, as consumers are choosing ‘experiences over material possessions’, preferring to ‘enjoy the moment’ with loved ones and moving towards ‘doing rather than having’.

With over 70 Yorkshire based businesses in its network, Uniquely Local is a ‘one stop shop’ for specialist, unique gift experiences across the county.  From vineyard tours, whisky tasting experiences, guided food tours, pork pie and piccalilli making workshops, cocktail masterclasses, online cheese tasting events and more, it offers experiences to suit the needs of a wide range of customers.

At the event, Uniquely Local will provide insights into the market and how Yorkshire based businesses can turn their current offering into a ‘gift experience’. A panel of Yorkshire business owners who have taken the plunge and transformed their own businesses by offering interactive customer ‘experiences’ will also be sharing their stories and advice.  Speakers will include:

• Tim Spakouskas, owner of Yorkshire Heart Vineyard, who offers a wide range of vineyard tours and tastings of his home-grown wine for his visitors.
• Simon Lacey, founder of Lacey’s Cheese, who alongside producing artisan cheese, offers tailored cheese making courses and tasting events.
• Marion Martinez, owner Tours in a Dish, who turned her passion for food & drink into an interactive experience of York’s hidden foodie gems.
• Rodger Williams, from Bramhope Sticks, who offers courses in the ancient art of stick making as well as running a successful butchers.

There will also be opportunity for business owners to network and find out more about the ‘customer and gift experience’ market.

Rachel Marshall, Owner of Uniquely Local said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Yorkshire Mark to reach more food and drink businesses as they can really benefit from the shift in spending habits from physical possessions towards experience driven purchases, with consumers looking for ‘memories over materials’. Offering customers an experience can create high margins for businesses who are already producing or offering something, as the main investment for them will be time. We are looking forward to sharing this knowledge and highlighting the opportunities diversifying your business to offer a gift experience can create.”

Yorkshire Mark is a community of food and drink producers, retailers, restaurants, and partner businesses who promote and celebrate their Yorkshire provenance by using ‘Made in Yorkshire’ stamp on their products, services or offering. Yorkshire Mark members who attend the event can also unlock a free 1:1 30 minute call with the Uniquely Local team to discover the specific ways they can diversify into the gift experience market.

Alexandra Calvert, Brand Director of The Yorkshire Mark said: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Uniquely Local to help bring this insight to forefront for the wide variety of incredible food & drink businesses we have in our region and support them to adapt their offering and grow. With the rise in popularity of ‘gift experiences as well as consumers being more mindful of their spending and tightening their belts, this event is a fantastic opportunity for them to learn more about how they can diversify their business for a relatively low-cost and reach new customers.”

Tickets are available on EventBrite here.