The nation is being urged to ‘support and spend’ with smaller stores this weekend, with Small Business Saturday falling tomorrow (6 December).
Ahead of one of the most crucial weekends of the peak festive season, the UK’s Small Business Saturday campaign reports encouraging signs that Christmas spending with small businesses here could rise by 19% this year - to £5.3bn.
Further research from the campaign and its principal supporter, American Express, found the UK’s love for small firms is riding high with four in five Brits (84%) believing it’s important to support small firms, with 95% thinking they add value to local communities and over half (58%) having a favourite small business.
Convenience stores appear sixth in the top ten spending destinations, scoring 13% of votes from Brits, alongside bakeries, hairdressers and more.
In signs of an improved economic outlook, Small Business Saturday’s data found the nation could spend over £23bn across the festive season in totall. Over a quarter (28%) of Brits also expect to spend more on Christmas this year than previously.
“Small businesses are the nation’s favourites businesses and they’re essential to both their communities and the whole UK economy,” said Michelle Ovens CBE (left), director of Small Business Saturday UK.
“We’d love to see everyone go out and support their favourite independents…”
“This Small Business Saturday, we’d love to see everyone go out and support their favourite independents, whether on the high streets or online, and show entrepreneurs the public is backing them all the way.”
Blair McDougall, Minister for Small Business, added: “Small businesses are key to our growth mission - creating jobs and strengthening our communities - which is why I’m so pleased to be celebrating their incredible contribution this Small Business Saturday.”
Small Business Saturday was originally founded by American Express in the US in 2010, with it remaining the principal supporter of the campaign in the UK. Over the time it’s been running in the UK, the campaign has seen a growth in public support for small businesses with billions of pounds spent with small firms on Small Business Saturday.
Many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events and offering promotions and collaborating with other local businesses.
As well as encouraging the public to shop small, organisers are also urging people to support their favourite small businesses in other ways, whether it be leaving positive reviews or spreading the word amongst friends and family.
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