Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. This year was the fifth year the campaign has run, Fiona has supported it every year, and nationally it has involved millions of customers and businesses.
Fiona supported small businesses across the constituency and said:
“Independently owned and run small businesses are crucial to the local economy in this constituency, play an essential role in providing goods, services, and jobs in a friendly local way. I am proud to support the Small Business Saturday campaign. Everyone benefits when we shop and use the services of local independent business as not only do we support them and enjoy the community relationships they promote, but also all the evidence shows that much more of the money we spend stays within the local economy when we do so.”
Christine Redstone, Alsager Small Business Owner of the company Redstone Willows, which grows and weaves willow products and provides training in the craft of willow weaving, said:
“Supporting a local business like Redstone Willows keeps money in the local community, allows our customers to have a special connection with the artists, enriching the community flavour and identity, gives customers access to better customer service and, in our case, to baskets and sculptures made entirely by our own hands, something that chain stores just cannot supply.”
Holmes Chapel resident Ian Mallon who runs Neon Freight, an international shipping company providing first class freight services based in Somerford said
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of the economy, with people taking huge risks and working vast amount of hours to get them off the ground. A small business is more likely to re-invest in the area and create local (and flexible) jobs. A small business can be quicker to adjust to new trends and technology and very often much more environmentally and socially responsible than a big company. Any support is very much appreciated!”
According to an American Express commissioned survey undertaken in the 48 hours following Small Business Saturday, an estimated £748 million was spent with small businesses across the UK. This was up 4% from the £717 million spent on Small Business Saturday last year, with 56% of those aware of the day saying they spent more than usual. Meanwhile, backing from local authorities was up from 80% in 2016 to 87% this year, with active support for the campaign including small business events and free parking on the day.