Originally written by Ben Lobel on Small Business
This year’s Small Business Saturday, a day where shoppers are encouraged to spend with local firms, is on 7 December.
According to independent research by Toluna for American Express, £812m was spent with small businesses during Small Business Saturday 2018. The same research revealed that cafés were the most-visited independent outlets (27pc).
When shoppers were asked, over half said they spent more they would normally with small businesses and around a quarter (24pc) said they spent half as much again as they would normally.
Café27pc
Butcher 24pc
Baker20pc
Market17pc
Restaurant15pc
Independent grocery store15pc
Greengrocer 15pc
Independent convenience store14pc
Health and beauty shop10pc
Cinema9pc
Shops will be marking the day by holding customer events and councils will be offering free parking. Some areas will also be putting on networking events and street entertainment.
If you’re an American Express cardholder, you can get £5 credit when you spend £10 or more in participating small businesses.
A rare marketing opportunity
Elaine Burns, co-founder of clothing retailer Wear Eponymous says Small Business Saturday is a very important initiative for her company. ‘The press gets behind interesting small businesses to promote them for what could be, arguably, the only time in the year.
“Throughout the year it’s the major players that scoop the press so now