Initiative to cash in on support for local shops

Small Business Saturday this weekend is a grass-roots campaign that encourages people to shop local and support small businesses in their communities, both on the Saturday and beyond.

It is traditionally an American shopping holiday held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

The initiative started in 2010, and has generated a lot of custom for small businesses.

And now it is being brought here to the UK to support those small businesses who are the lifeblood of our economy.

In the US last year, Small Business Saturday achieved $5.5 (£3.5) billion in sales to small businesses, and led to an increase in long-term custom.

So, why do we need one in the UK?

Our nation’s small businesses provide almost two thirds of private sector employment and almost half of private sector turnover.

Chuka Umunna, Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, believes that they deserve some recognition, and is bringing the initiative to the UK.

When is it?

Small Business Saturday in the UK will take place this Saturday (December 6), one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Who’s supporting it?

American Express will be supporting the campaign on this side of the pond as well.

Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured) has voiced his support on Twitter, as President Obama did in the US version last year.

New small business ambassador Karren Brady, as well as Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock MP, Vince Cable MP and a whole host of local councils and MPs are supporting the initiative too.

Business champions such as James Caan, Piers Linney and Martha Lane Fox have voiced their support for the campaign via the medium of social media.

And the movement is already growing, with backing from the Federation of Small Businesses, Forum for Private Business, the Association of Convenience Stores, the British Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Town and City Management representing hundreds of thousands of local businesses.

Ingenious Britain (www.ingeniousbritain.biz), the small business champions, and Start-up Britain, who aim to support countless entrepreneurs, are also lending their undying support to the initiative.

Include big-name supporters such as O2, Facebook, Lloyds, Aldermore Bank, Facebook, Twitter, Make It Cheaper, Paypoint, and many more, and you have a recipe for small business success!