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An app brings together 311 local businesses in Barcelona and excludes franchises
Barcelona has a platform that brings together 311 small businesses and independent projects in the city on a single map. Vuélvete Local lets you discover nearby shops, check out activities, contact those in charge directly, and, in some cases, buy products to pick up in store or have them delivered to your home.
The application is available for iOS and Android and can also be used on the web. The map allows users to search by proximity and categories such as food, fashion or wellbeing, while profiles include information about each project, opening hours, location, products, services and activities.
The main difference from a conventional commercial directory lies in who can join. The platform does not accept large companies, franchises, chains or multinationals and is aimed at micro-enterprises, small shops, professionals, cooperatives and projects linked to local consumption. Nor is it essential to have a physical shop in order to be part of the network.
For users, viewing the map and businesses does not require registration. Creating an account is necessary to save favourites or use direct chat with establishments. Purchases can be made through collection in store, home delivery or prior contact with the business when it needs to check stock or availability.
The events calendar adds another layer to the map. Establishments can announce workshops, clubs and in-person activities, from cooking and crafts to artistic proposals. In this way, a search is not limited to finding where to shop, but also makes it possible to see what is happening at local businesses in the coming days.
The project has also begun to move beyond the screen through Barris Vius. Its first edition of Art al Comerç, held in July, turned small establishments into cultural spaces: 29 businesses, 37 artists and nine neighbourhoods took part, with 54 activities including exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops.
Another of its initiatives, Tourists, Treat Us Like Home, directs the tool towards those visiting Barcelona and proposes using cafés, bookshops, shops and other independent projects instead of concentrating all consumption among large operators. Vuélvete Local has also received support from Barcelona Activa's Impulsem el que fas programme and the Generalitat's Tu+1 line.
For businesses, joining the platform is currently free and requires applying for a profile, which must be approved before appearing on the network. The figure of 311 establishments is therefore not a closed catalogue: the project continues to add small businesses and professionals from different Barcelona neighbourhoods.