Shop local this Small Business Saturday

December 3, 2019 by Leigh-on-sea.com

Local businesses are invited to celebrate Small Business Saturday as part of a national campaign which is designed to encourage shoppers to buy local.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages shoppers to buy products from local, small businesses. This year, Small Business Saturday falls on Saturday 7 December.

In support of this event, the council is offering 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.

One local business in Leigh-on-Sea, Groovy Baby, was listed as one of this year’s ‘Small Biz 100’, a selection of small businesses drawn from across the UK that reflect the vibrancy of the UK’s 5.6 million small businesses.

Small businesses can also take part in the ‘Best Festive Business’ competition, which launches on Saturday 16 November 2019. All you need to do is decorate your business fit for Christmas and send a picture via email to economicd@southend.gov.uk and ask your customers to vote for your business at the Business on Sea Facebook page. Photo submissions are now accepted. Voting is from 16 November to noon 20 December.

The business with most votes will win a free promotional video which will be produced and donated by Blatella Films.

One lucky public voter will be randomly chosen to win a £100 shopping voucher for a shop of their choice and a 7” cake decorated for Christmas, donated by the Cake Box, Westcliff.

Emma Cooney, director of regeneration and growth, said: “Small Business Saturday is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the wealth of exciting small businesses we have in Southend.  The day is all about supporting local people’s businesses for local people to support local businesses, whether that is popping to the local shop for some bread and milk, buying Christmas cards from local boutiques, or finding a local supplier for your own business.

“The Best Festive Business competition is great fun and each year we see some brilliantly creative shop windows. Why not have a go yourself and see if you could win the promotional video for your own business? I wish everyone the best of luck.”

Businesses that would like additional promotion for Small Business Saturday can do so by sending details of special offers to economicd@southend.gov.uk. 

To find out more about the day, you can visit https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/ or call 01702 215022.