It’s Small Business Saturday on 3 December and Nottingham’s Christmas shoppers are being urged to support independent city businesses and enjoy a more fulfilling shopping experience.
Small Business Saturday is a national grass roots, not-for-profit campaign that encourages people up and down the country to go out and support small businesses in their communities on that day and all year round.
Councillor Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Business, Growth and Transport, said: “Nottingham has many great small businesses, and in particular the city’s independent retail offer is one of the best in the UK – so we’re urging all shoppers to consider these businesses when they come into the city centre to do their Christmas shopping.
“Whether you’re trying to find that unique Christmas gift, or taking a break to have something to eat and drink, the city’s small retailers have a lot to offer. If we support our smaller, local businesses we are also supporting jobs for local people and our city’s economy. Visiting small businesses benefits everyone.”
Nottingham boasts the largest number of independent shops outside London and, to promote the day Nottingham City Council is working with partners including the Nottingham BID, the Creative Quarter Company and Experience Nottinghamshire.
On the day shoppers are being encouraged to look for shops and venues displaying the Small Business Saturday poster or the Nottingham Independents logo in order to find unique and interesting products and great customer service. They are then being asked to share their love of independent businesses via social media, by using the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK
The Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID) provides on-going support to independent businesses in the city centre through the It’s in Nottingham independent initiative, activity designed to help and promote independent businesses including an annual competition to find Nottingham’s independent business of the year.
Geoff Williams, director of the Nottingham BID said:
“The large number of great independent businesses in the city centre helps to differentiate Nottingham from other places and persuade people to come here rather than going elsewhere to shop and spend their leisure time so initiatives like this which serve to highlight them are important. Independents are just brilliant for buying original Christmas gifts.”
Brendan Moffett, Chief Executive, Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, said:
“Small Business Saturday is a fantastic national initiative which encourages consumers to shop local and support small businesses in their communities. With the highest number of independent retailers outside of London, Nottingham boasts an abundance of individual shops which make the city unique and popular with visitors and locals alike. This great campaign, supported by Nottingham City Council and other partners, encourages shoppers to visit the smaller shops in the run up to Christmas and beyond”.
Kathy McArdle, CEO at The Creative Quarter said:
“Supporting small, independent businesses is at the heart of what we do here at the Creative Quarter Company, so it’s great to be working with partners across the city to promote national Small Business Saturday. For every £1 spent in a small business, 63p is re-spent in the local area, compared to 40p in every £1 spent with a larger business, so Small Business Saturday is good news for the whole of Nottingham. The Creative Quarter area is home to a thriving array of small businesses and shops and we urge everyone to spend their money in these local businesses and help the local economy.”
Alex Smith, owner of independent books and magazine store Ideas on Paper added:
“Building prosperous, happy, sustainable and inclusive places is about thinking local and acting local, Small Business Saturday presents a wonderful opportunity to do both.”
Debbie Bryan, winner of the Nottingham BID’s Independent of the Year, said:
“We’ve grown so much as a business since being a part of last year’s Small Biz 100 selection. Handmade and creativity is at the heart of what we do and an integral part of our successes – resulting in us being crowned Nottingham’s Best Independent for 2016.”
Further information about the national campaign can also be found on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page www.facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturdayuk and Twitter @SmallBizSatUk .