Businesses in Burton-on-Trent have had a tough time recently. Essential roadworks - carried out at short notice – closed one of two main bridges that bring shoppers and commuters into the town centre for 11 weeks.
There was a major impact on the town, so this year it’s more important than ever that we encourage people to return to the town and #shoplocal this Christmas.
That’s why I’m backing an idea by fellow Burton Small Business founder, Tilley Bancroft, for the #BuckieLovesSmallBiz tour that will take place in the town centre on Small Business Saturday.
Tilley explained: “It’s going to be a really celebratory day. Buckie, our two-person-operated puppet, will have an entourage following him taking pictures and videos and putting Burton businesses firmly on the map on Small Business Saturday.”
She added: “Buckie can be a bit cheeky. He loves to poke his nose into whatever’s going on and he loves having selfies taken. We think it will be a lot of fun.”
You can watch Buckie here, when he joined the Small Business Saturday bus tour, and even got chance to drive the bus!
Small Business Saturday falls on December 2 this year. It’s a day when consumers and businesses are reminded to make a special effort to support the small, independent businesses in their local communities.
When you buy from a small business you're keeping more of your money in your local community. Research by local authorities in the UK has shown that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business, 63p stays in the local economy. This compares to 40p in every £1 spent with larger businesses.
When you buy from a small business you're keeping more of your money in your local community. Research by local authorities in the UK has shown that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business, 63p stays in the local economy. This compares to 40p in every £1 spent with larger businesses.
It’s important to note that Small Business Saturday – which celebrates five years in the UK in 2017 – is supported by many big businesses and brands because they recognise the importance of small and medium-sized businesses to our economy.
- Small businesses accounted for 99.3% of all private sector businesses at the start of 2016 and 99.9% were small or medium-sized (SMEs).
- Total employment in SMEs was 15.7 million; 60% of all private sector employment in the UK.
- The combined annual turnover of SMEs was £1.8 trillion, 47% of all private sector turnover in the UK.
Buckie will be touring the town from 9.30am. His provisional itinerary will be:
9.30am: Langan’s Tea Rooms
10.30am: Calm Yoga Studio
11am: Ahoy Sailor
11.30am: Café B
Noon: H.J Richards and Sons
12.30pm: Helen’s Bakehouse &Tea Rooms
1.30pm: Burton Market Hall
2.30pm: The Why Not Gallery
3pm: The Hideaway
3.30pm: The Alphabet Gift Shop
All small businesses are welcome to join Buckie and his entourage at one or more of these planned stops. You will be able to get selfies taken with Buckie (make sure you bring a printed logo or business card to promote your business on the photos). Bring the children along if you want – small businesses are ALL about family.
You will have the chance to appear in the film Tilley and her Red Door Studios team will be making.
You will have the chance to appear in the film Tilley and her Red Door Studios team will be making.
I’ll be helping to hand out flyers to the general public explaining why there’s a giant blue puppet on the streets. Huge thank to our supporter Zero Gravitee– signage and printing specialists from Burton’s Eton Business Park – for providing these and some #BuckieLovesSmallBiz t-shirts for the team.
The hashtag #BuckieLovesSmallBiz, will help anyone who can’t get into town to follow his adventures on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels.
We hope we’ll be raising the profile of Burton’s great small businesses and encourage record numbers to shop at small independents this Christmas.
The hashtag #BuckieLovesSmallBiz, will help anyone who can’t get into town to follow his adventures on Facebook, Twitter and other social media channels.
We hope we’ll be raising the profile of Burton’s great small businesses and encourage record numbers to shop at small independents this Christmas.