UK showed its support for Small Business Saturday with spending up 15%

Britain’s small independent businesses benefitted from an additional £717m in sales on December 3 thanks to Small Business Saturday (SBS) 2016, the annual one-day initiative which celebrates the contribution independent businesses make to the economy.

According to a study undertaken by American Express in the 36 hours following the event, it was found that sales increased by 15% on last year’s campaign with 57% of consumers having said they “spent more than usual” on the day.

A number of organisations and entrepreneurs also got behind the SBS campaign this year:

• Startups.co.uk ran a guide to inform retailers of how to maximise sales
• MP Chuka Umunna – who orginally helped bring SBS to the UK – showcased independent businesses in his constituency
• And there was tweets of support from business leaders including Ann Summers CEO Jacqueline Gold CBE, Dragons’ Den star Sarah Willingham, and Baroness Karren Brady CBE.

American Express reports that over 80% of all local authorities actively backed the campaign through activities such as staging small business events, and offering free parking.

Michelle Ovens MBE, campaign director of Small Business Saturday, commented:

“In its fourth year, Small Business Saturday has once again delivered a sustained increase in spending with Britain’s small independent businesses.

“To see the spend on Small Business Saturday reach £249m more this year than on the first Saturday in 2013, an increase of 53%, is fantastic and confirms the positive stories we are hearing from small businesses in communities across the UK.”