Originally written by Timothy Adler on Small Business
Small retailers and independent businesses are set for a very SME-rry Christmas this year.
This Christmas UK shoppers will spend £4.4bn with small retailers, with £140.4m being spent every day in December.
People plan to buy nearly one fifth of their gifts from independent businesses, each spending £87.51 on average, according to research.
>See also: Delivery tips: The 12 do’s of Christmas logistics
The Direct Line for Business survey found that supporting local businesses is extremely important to 93 per cent of people across the country and that independent shops ensure communities have a distinct local character (91 per cent).
Nearly nine out of 10 people think that without supporting local retailers, British high streets will be hollowed out with “clone” multiple retailers, and that high streets will die out unless small businesses are supported (85 per cent).
Hearteningly, 76 per cent of shoppers think that the service in independent retailers is better, while three fifths (60 per cent) believe the quality of goods from indie shops is higher than major chains.
Age breakdown of Christmas shopping among small businesses
Age groupAverage proportion of gifts expected to be bought from small, independent retailers this ChristmasAverage spend at small, independent retailersEstimated total