Net gain for the independents

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Independent businesses such as butchers, delicatessens and cafés can post their details free on the site, www.welovelocal.com, where they can be rated and reviewed by customers.

The founders say the idea is to encourage electronic word of mouth about retailers who are struggling against the huge advertising budgets of nat ional chains as well as suffering increasing rents.

The site went live in the summer with London listings but will be rolled out nationwide next week because of the "overwhelming" response.

Co-founder Max Jennings, 28, said: "There are 100,000 businesses listed on the site and just under 5,000 users in London. We only launched to see if the small business community wanted to get involved and have been taken aback by their enthusiasm."

The ratings system means that good businesses will stand out quickly because people searching for, say, greengrocers in their area can select them by their average mark.

Mr Jennings said: "The best businesses are typically the small, independent traders who are also doing the most for the community. Once you have identified the best, you can check out the profile of the reviewers, an 18-year-old will have different expectations froma 65-year-old.

"Businesses can update their information regularly and also respond to reviews so they can explain why service was poor on a particular day or thank people for positive things they said."

Mr Jennings, who set up the site with his brother Duncan, said they were aware of the intense pressures facing small shops because their mother had run a gift shop.