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Small Business Saturday

Customers are urged to act local on Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday, a nationwide event to inspire and promote the UK’s five million small businesses, is set to return on Saturday December 5 this year.

This is the third year for the event which last year saw over 16 million people support a local independent firm on Small Business Saturday, with an estimated 64% of the UK aware of the campaign. The UK’s small businesses are accountable for approximately 60% of private sector jobs and nearly 50% of private sector turnover.

As a national campaign that encourages the public to shop local the FSB are proud supporters. Last year, the campaign trended at number one on Twitter on the day and received around 3.5 million views on Facebook.  In Kent, we invited MPs on an independent shop tour to meet and celebrate the success of small businesses. And this year, the FSB is encouraging even more businesses to get involved.

Zoe Cairns, FSB Regional Policy Lead and social media expert, says “Small Business Saturday helps build awareness of local companies and encourages people to shop locally. Through social media, we can reach a vast amount of people, help build the profile and presence of FSB members and shops, as thousands of people will be sharing their photos, business names and comments during the day. All this increases their brand reach locally, and nationally celebrates the diversity of independent businesses. With 99% of the businesses in Kent being small and independent companies, we have a lot to celebrate!”

Kent MPs are showing their support for small businesses too. The FSB will be taking Kelly Tolhurst MP, Damian Green MP and Greg Clark MP to local businesses as part of the day’s events.

Two Kent FSB members have made it onto the national Small Business Saturday Top 100 list – the Whitstable Produce Store and Right Track Music.

Free networking sessions

The FSB is running introductory sessions next week for local retailers to find out more about the campaign. Each event runs from 6pm to 7.30pm.

It’s not too late for any small business to get involved and it doesn’t cost a penny. Businesses can download a free toolkit and check the map on www.smallbusinessaturdayuk.com to see which other businesses are involved. Customers and businesses alike can share and upload photos to Twitter using #SmallBizSatUK.

 

 

There are network meetings scheduled for

 

Medway Innovation Centre

Wednesday 11th November 17:30 – 18:30

Hosted by Zoe Cairns

 

Book here

 

Fruitworks,

77 Stour St

Canterbury CT1 2NR

Thursday 12th November 18:00-19:30

Hosted by Paul Andrews

Book Here

 

Westenhanger Castle – Hythe & Folkstone

Stone Street

Westenhanger CT21 4HX

Monday 9th November 18:00 – 19:30

Hosted by Sarah Poole

Book Here

 

Maidstone

Tuesday, 10 November, 18:00 – 19:30
Hilton Maidstone Hotel, Bearsted Rd, Maidstone ME14 5AA
Hosted by Ivan White

Tonbridge

16 Nov –18:00

Rose and Crown Hotel, Tonbridge, with Karen Smith, FSB Membership Advisor

 

 

Event details here