Shoppers urged to support local businesses this Small Business Saturday
The Federation of Small Businesses highlights the importance of local high streets
Shoppers are being encouraged to support independent businesses today for Small Business Saturday.
James Anderson, business and stakeholder manager for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Thames Valley, stressed the importance of shopping locally.
He said: "It's crucial for us as as individuals to make that choice, to go and support a small local business rather than a business from abroad that's online."
The FSB highlights that money spent locally with small businesses stays within the community, benefitting local people and creating a positive cycle.
"If you spend your money locally, by and large, that money stays local. A small local business will employ a local person, that local person will spend their money locally and so if you're spending money with them, it's going to be spent in your community," James said.
With business confidence reported as low, James warned what could happen if consumers do not tackle the trend of declining independent businesses, which has been exacerbated by economic pressures.
"We will end up with hollowed-out high streets and places where community and life used to be and isn’t anymore.
"None of us like seeing boarded-up shops or a high street where the only things surviving are betting shops, chicken shops, and charity shops," he said.
He also described thriving clusters of businesses on high streets as essential spaces for interaction and community rebuilding, especially after the pandemic.
"One of the things we've found post-COVID was that people do need that human interaction and if we don't have these places, society as a whole will be worse for it."
On Small Business Saturday, the FSB is urging shoppers to consider the difference they can make.
He said: "The phrase ‘use it or lose it’ really applies to small businesses.
"We encourage people to support their small businesses all year round, but equally welcome a day to particularly celebrate small businesses and encourage everyone to go to their nearest retailers, cafes, restaurants, pubs."