This year marks the fourth anniversary of Small Business Saturday in the UK, which launched in the US in 2010 as an alternative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
The flash sales associated with those events pull in the crowds but disproportionately benefit larger retail firms such as supermarkets, department stores and – of course – Amazon.
The Small Business Saturday campaign, on the other hand, encourages people to support local, independent businesses in their communities. It is an opportunity for small enterprises of all kinds to attract new customers. In 2015, an estimated £623m was spent with small businesses on this day, and of those who did buy something, 48% said they spent more than they would usually.
What are you doing to attract customers this Small Business Saturday? We want to know if you’ve seen an uplift in business, if your local area is planning anything special, and if you’re running promotions or entertainment to celebrate. We’ll pick the best pictures and stories to be featured in a gallery on the Guardian Small Business Network.
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