THE INSPIRED HOME SHOW SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY


value for local communities and the wider economy. Small firms are facing a host of challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis, with inflation and supply chain issues all having a huge impact on the recovery that many small businesses have been making, so the campaign is more vital than ever.


Who can get involved in Small Business Saturday and how? Everyone can get involved in Small Business Saturday! Many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events or promotions and by joining in with the conversation online using #SmallBizSatUK. Marketing collateral - such as posters or logos to use on websites and across social media - can be downloaded from the website - https ://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com. Small businesses can also register to be featured for free on the campaign’s Small Business Finder map - you can sign-up on the mobile app or online at https:// smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/my-small-business. We encourage customers to support all types of small businesses, online, in offices and in stores, or to lend support in other ways, such as leaving positive reviews and spreading the word about favourite small businesses. We’re also encouraging people to back the campaign online, sharing content about their favourite small businesses using the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK.


who design and create furniture, homewares and interiors in Malvern, and Maybugs, an emporium in East Sussex selling fine gifts and homewares. We also have our national roadshow in full swing to support and raise


the profile of small businesses all around the country and help firms cope with persistent economic challenges. Once again supported by BT Skills for Tomorrow, Small Business Saturday’s roadshow will visit 23 locations including cities like Newcastle, Exeter, and Belfast, to coastal communities such as Whitstable, and small towns like Knowle.


With the current pressure on the retail sector, why are campaigns like this so important? As we know, small firms are fronting a lot of challenges at the moment. The economic situation is still really tough, and many consumers are understandably tightening their belts and being more mindful about where they spend every last penny. And this struggle isn’t limited to retail and hospitality - small businesses from all sectors are finding it difficult.


Our campaign aims to highlight the importance of supporting small businesses and to channel the love that the nation has for independents, and the powerful impact consumers can have with their spending choices. And this support doesn’t have to be purely financial, of course. Consumers can also leave positive reviews and spread the word about their favourite small businesses amongst friends and family.


Small Business Saturday makes a major difference in channelling


spend towards small businesses during the key peak season, but it also has a wider impact of inspiring confidence and giving entrepreneurs a boost. Indeed, recent research the campaign did with American Express found that eight in ten (82%) of small firms feel entrepreneurship needs greater celebration and recognition, and three quarters (76%) would like more Government support to grow. After all, small businesses make up 99 per cent of UK businesses,


so by supporting our local businesses, we are not only making a huge contribution to each community, but to the whole UK economy.


Tell us about the support for Small Business Saturday? Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign. Over the decade it has been running in the UK, it has engaged millions and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses on Small Business Saturday. Last year, the campaign trended at number one in the UK on X (formerly Twitter), with the Prime Minister, leader of the opposition and the Mayor of London among those publicly supporting the campaign. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign. There has certainly been a growing tide of public support for small businesses over the past decade too, particularly as people appreciated the incredible support given to local communities by small firms during the pandemic. Indeed, recent research the campaign did with American Express found over half (55 %) of small businesses say customers are choosing to shop small to support them during the challenging economic environment. And (55%) report seeing a rise in new customers purchasing from their business over the last six months. With consumers mindful about where they spend every penny in these challenging economic times, Small Business Saturday highlights the value and power of public support for small businesses.


Can you tell us anything about this year’s Small Business Saturday? As the campaign moves into its second decade in the UK, we want this year’s Small Business Saturday to be the biggest and most impactful campaign yet!


As we countdown to the 2nd December we are celebrating this


year’s SmallBiz100 – a line-up of Britain’s 100 most impressive small businesses which includes Maker & Wright, a husband-and-wife team


housewareslive.net housewareslive.net


as opposed to doing multiple washes a day in a smaller washer.” “On the other hand, we typically say that a refrigerator will use the most amount of electricity in a household as it is required to be powered 24/7, to avoid defrosting and risking any foods or liquids going mouldy or past their best. There are, however, many ways in which you can reduce the energy consumption on your fridge or fridge-freezer, without having to switch it off. For example, by ensuring your refrigerator appliances are set to the optimum settings or not leaving the door open for longer than necessary. It may sound simple, but many homeowners don’t know how much energy any of their appliances generate – in fact, lots of people are causing more damage than good when it comes to switching up their household chores and appliances in their efforts to cut down on energy bills. Some may be cutting back on dishwasher usage to prioritise washing by hand, yet if that requires multiple bowls full of water with a lot of dirty pots, the dishwasher can be the better option,” he adds. Transparency


“Businesses can absolutely provide help on the cost-of-living crisis on its website and through its customer service to ensure support is available when needed. By providing transparent information on energy usage, costs and energy savings, consumers will have more trust and loyalty to these brands and will likely return to purchase later down the line,” says Bhatoye. “Unfortunately, the cost-of-living crisis is not going away any time soon, and we predict that in 2023, consumers will be looking for even more support from businesses in the year. In order to stay ahead of the


Last year you celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Small Business Saturday, how will you evolve the event moving forward? The mission of Small Business Saturday is ongoing and we will continue to champion the value that small businesses and entrepreneurs bring to the economy. As always, we want to grow the campaign and see even more people supporting small businesses on Small Business Saturday and beyond. Hopefully as we move forward there will be calmer times ahead for business owners than we have seen over the past few years. Yet experience teaches us there will always be challenges and uncertainty out there in the world and the economy that small businesses need support to face. In particular, the role that small firms can have in addressing global issues such as climate change will certainly grow in prominence. We see huge passion and potential for small businesses to make a major impact here and it has increasingly become a focus for our campaign. As well as championing the incredible innovation that small firms


“Right now, it is our number one priority to help the nation to understand how to best use their appliances.”


are showing in sustainability, we also increasingly strive to minimise the impact of the campaign. For example, ‘The Tour’ is now using electric vehicles to reduce emissions and reflect the sustainable switches many business owners are making as part of their vital role in the race to net zero. We hope you will go out and support your local small businesses this Small Business Saturday (December 2nd) and beyond!


curve, retailers and suppliers should use their voices of authority to put out clear, concise, and transparent messaging to their customers, to let them know that there’s support there for them. Consumers understand the importance of analysing energy usage on their appliances and will be making much more considered purchases than in previous years. Therefore, businesses should be prepared to work collaboratively with consumers to help them understand energy usage and find the best solutions for their purchase needs. It could also be that shoppers look more towards high-street retail purchases, feeling more peace of mind and confidence shopping with the support of a sales assistant,” he concludes.


October/November 2023 | 15 January/February 2023 | 15


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36