Small Business Saturday “highlights the diverse and valuable role small businesses play”

Small Business Saturday returns tomorrow, 1st December, to encourage consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.

Mandy J Cairns Ford of Belhaven Bikes said: “We’ve taken part in Small Business Saturday from its inception six years ago.

“It’s great at highlighting the diverse and valuable role small businesses play in the economy and communities and we appreciate the networking and promotional opportunities being part of the campaign offers us.

“Being chosen as one of the Small Biz 100 winners last year just expanded the promotion with national press coverage and high profile events.

“We always feature Small Business Saturday in our Autumn/Winter events and promotions.

“This Saturday we have a ‘shop local’ prize draw and it’s a great opportunity to chat to customers about some of our Christmas offers such as gift storage and our Christmas Savings Club.

“Not forgetting, there’s always cake!”

Ben Othen of Altrincham Bikeshak added: “There does seem to be a bit of a change on the wind, there is a sense of gathering momentum for shopping local especially in market towns like Altrincham that have dedicated a lot resources into town centre regeneration and small independents. 

“I think the consumer is starting to realise that the value goes far beyond the product but more what shopping local does for the area they live and I genuinely think people are beginning to get fed up with having deals forced on them 24/7.

“There is a definite ‘feel good’ factor to shopping local that many larger companies are waking up to and beginning to capitalise on.”