People urged to support Small Business Saturday in Teesside
We're being asked to spend locally in shops
We're being urged to visit independent shops in Teesside today as part of Small Business Saturday.
Its campaign aims to get people to spend money locally rather than at big, national chains.
Emily Bentley runs coffee shops in Middlesbrough and Stockton and she said: "It's hugely important for people to think to shop local first. Obviously the benefits of shopping locally is you're supporting someone's business, someone's dreams, someone's family and often you're served with more care.
"Spending your pound in local businesses doesn't go as far as the pound that nationals receive. Obviously overheads for businesses are much higher whatever is left at the end of that pound really means the world so you'll make their Christmas spending local.
"The big chains yes they can give you a range of what you might need but the really special items, the personal items, the items that have had a bit more thought when they've been created, individual and bespoke hopefully can all be found at one of your local shops and then you can avoid the chain stores."