Team South of Scotland is encouraging residents to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities on Small Business Saturday this weekend.
Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local.’
The day takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a long-lasting impact on small businesses. On this specific day, customers across the UK are encouraged to go out and support all types of small businesses, online, in offices and in stores.
We also welcome another Christmas Campaign which launched this week: ‘Christmas Starts Now, Christmas Starts Here’ by Scotland Starts Here. This campaign similarly aims to showcase and support local businesses in the South of Scotland.
Team SOS are encouraging residents in Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders to visit and shop at their local businesses, supporting their community this Saturday.
Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) Professor Russel Griggs OBE said:
“It has been a difficult year for small businesses, and we are delighted to support this UK campaign.
The pandemic has brought great uncertainty for businesses and the people they employ. We would encourage people to shop locally – and safely – to support their high street. Every purchase we make, every item we buy, is a shop helped and a job supported.
As the Enterprise Agency for the South of Scotland, we are fully committed to supporting local businesses as they continue to recover from the pandemic, reopen their doors and welcome back customers safely.”
Councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Economic Regeneration and Finance, said:
“Small Business Saturday is a great idea, and it will be welcomed by both local shoppers and traders.
“In the Scottish Borders, we have suspended all pay and display car parking charges across the area throughout the festive season, in an effort to encourage use of our excellent local shops.
“We can see the impact of Coronavirus on our town centres and local businesses, and we must support them at this time. We would like to encourage Borderers to shop local and support their town centres which, despite the challenges faced this year, still offer a wide breath of businesses offering quality local products. We can all make a difference this Christmas by shopping locally.”
Depute Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, Rob Davidson, said:
“Small businesses have certainly felt the impact of coronavirus, and shopping locally is one of the best ways we can help our local economy, local jobs, and our community.
With Christmas just around the corner, and the huge impact of Covid-19 on small businesses, I’d urge everyone in their local community to spend a little extra in their own town this coming Saturday, and throughout December.
This year in particular, let’s think a little harder about where we are buying gifts from, as it could be the difference between a local business closing, or staying open long term. “
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