Dr Jackie Mulligan
Dr Jackie Mulligan, Founder and CEO of ShopAppy.com, is a passionate and professional speaker, writer and specialist in creative thinking, future thinking, and events. She has used her international experience, expertise and doctoral research into psychology and behaviors to develop ShopAppy.com. She is a high street advocate, a Senior Fellow for the Institute of Place Management and an expert on the High Street Taskforce. She is inspired by small businesses and ShopAppy is a digital platform that diverts online browsing to local spending. ShopAppy makes it easier for high streets to get digital as a unified front enabling customers to easily browse, book and buy locally online.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before the venture/ corporate journey?
I worked in place management, in tourism in the Caribbean, in events and as an academic – I have spent much of my life working with creative people, from inspiring small businesses to researchers and innovators. I am passionate about place and community.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
ShopAppy is about supporting people to make better decisions on how and where they shop. The platform is a website that makes it easier for people to spend where their hearts are, rather than supporting billionaires, they get to support small businesses. More of their spend then stays in their communities (around 38%) and of course shopping locally is better for the planet as well as mental health and wellbeing. ShopAppy is convenient with a local conscience.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
ShopAppy has been featured in the media on TV, news and in newspapers. 91% of our customers say ShopAppy encourages them to shop local more. We have won several awards has been featured on BBC The One Show, ITV Tonight Show, BBC Morning Live, Talk Radio, regional TV and radio, The Grocer, i News, the Guardian, the FT, Closer, The Mail, Express and The Mirror and Woman & Home magazine and spoken about in Parliament and in the recently published Against All Odds Grimsey Report about the value, role and support needed for independent businesses. ShopAppy is in over 100 locations, has won recognition being cited in the top 40 digital retail innovations by Retail Insider and being recognised for innovation from the FSB, Natwest and Barclaycard Everywoman in Retail. I was recently named in the top 32 female tech leaders in the UK by Business Leader magazine.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
Completely. I had mostly worked for organizations, so I feel very lucky to now be leading my own company and to have such a talented team of people and supporters. Every day we make a positive impact on our high streets and it is fantastic to be doing something that is purposeful for happy people, happy places and a happy planet.
What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Starting a new venture is frightening and exciting – there are only two outcomes for every decision, you succeed or you learn. Both are positive.