A Saturday celebration for small businesses in Southend-on-Sea

November 26, 2018 by Southend Borough Council

Small businesses across Southend-on-Sea are being celebrated on Saturday 1 December.

Small Business Saturday is a national campaign designed to highlight small business success and encourage consumers to shop local.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council has supported the annual event since 2013 by encouraging businesses to take part, promoting events and discounts, and by offering free all-day parking in seven council-run car parks.

There is free car parking all day in the following local car parks: llfracombe Avenue, North Road, Hamlet Court Road, Elm Road (Leigh-on-Sea), North Street, Ceylon Road and Thorpe Bay Broadway.

Cllr Andrew Moring, cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “Small Business Saturday is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the diverse and wonderful small enterprises that we are lucky enough to have here in Southend-on-Sea.

“These small businesses, whether online, in offices or in stores, play a vital role in the local economy and it is great to have a day to highlight their importance. 

“I’m also hoping that many local businesses get involved with the Best Festive Business competition too, as it is a great way to promote themselves and they could win a prize to boost their business.”

The Best Festive Business competition is to encourage companies to decorate their business with as many Christmas decorations as they like and post a photo on social media. 

To take part in the Best Festive Business competition, post a picture on social media mentioning @BusinessOnSea using #BestFestiveBiz18. Alternatively, pictures can be emailed to economicd@southend.gov.uk.

All entries will be featured on the Business on Sea Facebook page, where residents can vote for their favourites by liking their favourite Christmas set up. The winning business will receive a promotional video worth £500 made by Blatella Films which can be used to promote the winning business. The winner and two runners up will be awarded a certificate from The Worshipful The Mayor, Cllr Derek Jarvis on Friday 14 December.

Businesses can download and print the Best Festive Business poster at https://www.southend.gov.uk/businessonsea/info/5/news-events/4/news-events-1 and the competition is open until 12 December. 

For more information about the competition, please email economicd@southend.gov.uk or call 01702 215022. 

To find out more about Small Business Saturday, please visit https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/

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