On the first Saturday of December each year small businesses in the UK consumers are encouraged to ‘shop small’ and support their local community.
Since its founding in the UK in 2013, the Small Business Saturday movement has successfully supported local businesses and inspired millions of people to go out of their way to help, either through buying products or promoting small businesses on social media.
Greater Manchester is bursting with independent, locally run businesses – these are at the heart of what makes the area so special.
On Twitter the MP for Ashton under Lyne, Angela Rayner, said that it is “Never a better time to get some Christmas shopping done and support your local economy.”
There are many different ways to support your local businesses during this time, even if you don’t have the cash to spend.
Speaking on social media, Helen Rogers from the Manchester based business, MisHelenEous, said: “If however you can’t or don’t want to buy from small businesses there are free ways to support us. Like telling your friends about us, liking, commenting on, or sharing our posts.”
“Basically – every little helps!”
MisHelenEous specialises in bespoke designs and crafted gifts both for your home and for your dogs.
It is particularly important to shop small at this time – more people staying indoors, and having less money to spend, has left many small businesses struggling throughout the pandemic.
Small businesses are the cornerstones of our local communities, and it is crucial that local authorities and communities band together to support them throughout this difficult time this winter.
Small Business Saturday has been proven to be successful before, in 2020 on the first Saturday in December, £1.1 billion was spent with small businesses, and 15.4 million people chose to show their support for the movement and shop small.
Therefore you should make sure to shop local this Saturday, and continue to do so throughout the year!
