Local small businesses joined the Sherriff of Chester, Cllr Myles Hogg, and Bill Esterson, the Shadow Small Business Minister, when Small Business Saturday, the annual, grassroots, not-for-profit campaign that puts small, independent businesses in communities across the country in the national spotlight, brought its 29 date UK bus tour to the city. The Small Business Saturday team were on hand to provide free marketing packs and information for small business owners about how to get involved in the campaign ahead of Small Business Saturday itself on December 3rd.
Small Business Saturday encourages people up and down the country to go out and support small businesses in their communities on that day and all year round. Last year an estimated £623 million was spent with small businesses across the UK on the day – up £119 million on the previous year and an increase in spending of 24%.
“Small Business Saturday is not just a campaign to raise awareness of our diverse and innovative small business sector, but also a vehicle from which small businesses who embrace make use of the campaign can derive tangible benefit,” explains Small Business Saturday National Campaign Director, Michelle Ovens.
“The bus tour is a very visible way for us to meet small businesses around the UK and show them how they can become involved as well as drumming up consumer interest, support and enthusiasm.”
Carl Critchlow, BID Manager at CH1ChesterBID, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Small Business Saturday tour bus here in Chester. We’re proud to be supporting this national initiative at a local level and we’re working hard to champion Chester’s unique and diverse range of small and independent businesses.
“Small Business Saturday is on December 3 this year and we’ll be doing everything we can to encourage local residents and visitors to get behind the campaign and explore some of the hidden gems we’ve got right here in the city centre.”
Small Business Saturday was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010 and it remains the principal supporter of the campaign in the UK, as part of its on-going commitment to encourage consumers to shop small. The campaign also benefits from the backing of leading business organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses and Enterprise Nation. The campaign is also supported by PRS For Music, TalkTalk Business, Vistaprint, Post Office, Clear Channel, STIHL and Indeed.
Logos, digital banners, a social media guide and toolkits are available to download from the Small Business Saturday website Businesses around the country can also upload information to the ‘My Small Business Finder’ on the website (www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com) on what special events or promotional offers they will be running for Small Business Saturday.
More information on Small Business Saturday can also be found on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page (www.facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturdayuk) and Twitter feed @SmallBizSatUk).
