A unique website championing Kent-based online shopping sites has just added a 100^th shop to its directory.

www.iShopKent.co.uk is an online shopping mall of Kent-based websites offering everything from architect’s services to garden plants, beauticians to plumbers, bookshops to gift shops, CDs and electrical supplies.

The concept is simple but it works extremely well, marrying the way we would like to shop – supporting the local economy, keeping local people in work, reducing delivery miles – with the way more and more of us actually prefer to shop: online.

The website follows a model which has proved successful for retailers in the Isle of Wight and the Isle of Mann, and it is already doing well for businesses based in Kent.

Any ‘shop’ with a website can join, regardless of size, as long as it’s based in the county. Standard entries are free, although shops can increase their profile by advertising ‘Featured products’ at just £1 per product per month (perfect for special offers) or appearing as a ‘Featured listing’ on the Home Page for £20 a month.

www.iShopKent.co.uk is designed and managed by Kent’s leading online shopping site designers Icelab, who also host the annual iShopKent conference (www.ishopkent.co.uk/2011) and Ecommerce in Kent awards, now in its fourth year. (www.theicelab.co.uk/award)

Icelab director Alan Noake is delighted with the success of the website, and believes it to be the way forward if we are to keep people shopping locally.

“Internet shopping is huge” he said, “But there is also a real desire to support the local economy. iShopKent makes it possible to do both, offering the convenience of the internet with the knowledge you are spending money – and saving jobs – in Kent.”

For more information about the iShopKent website or conference please contact Alan Noake on 01304 813625 or email alan@theicelab.co.uk

Carols for All Concert featuring the Shepway Singers, St Leonard’s Church Choirs and Hythe Girls Choir conducted by Berkeley Hill in St Leonard’s Church on Saturday 18 December at 7.30pm, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Entry free – retiring collection.

Do come and support these events.

See the next scheduled event at St Leonard’s Church, Hythe here.

See our calendar of local events in Folkestone, Hythe and Kent here.