A low cost directory-style listings platform exclusively for smaller businesses is inviting Dorset enterprises to sign up for as little as £1 a month.

My Hi Street was officially founded on May 1 last year with the website – myhistreet.co.uk – going live a few weeks later.

It is only open to smaller, independent businesses.

Any business backed by a national structure is not permitted.

Matt Schofield, Founder and Director, said My Hi Street came after months of research.

Many businesses were struggling to be found and contacted.

Whether due to small advertising budgets, lack of time or marketing awareness, small businesses faced a constant battle every day to be found – and to attract new customers to stay afloat.

Matt said: “It is vital for these business owners that they can be found easily for minimal cost on a platform exclusive to them.

“You’ve heard of Checkatrade and Yell.

“One is exclusively for trades, the other you will find multi-million pound chains and franchises on the same page as small and local companies.

“It seems unfair with such a large difference in advertising budget yet one platform for them all.

“My Hi Street enables business owners to create an account and their own listing.

“Some information is a must such as business name and telephone number, plus location for the searching criteria.

“Others are additional with no extra charge, for example social media links, opening times, gallery images, logos and so on.

“If an estate agent has four offices for example, that’s fine. Each office can have its own listing.

“We get thousands of users through the site per month as we continue to grow at a phenomenal pace to become a nationally recognised brand, supporting local on a national basis.

“All of this, and it costs just £1 per month, per listing – not business – to join and sign up.

“Most that join only require one customer from it per year and they will have made their small annual investment of £12 back.”

Matt said he believed My Hi Street would be of great interest in a county like Dorset and its abundance of small businesses.

He added: “Dorset is a county filled with togetherness and wonderful spirit.

“It is the business owners of Dorset, and the rest of the UK, that have struggled the most during these brutal times.

“This is a platform to support them.

“Encouraging customers to search, find, shop and use them to help survive after these tough times.

“The larger we grow, the more support we can offer these smaller businesses and give them the best chance of survival, and possibly growth, in 2021 and into the future.”

• enquiries@myhistreet.co.uk