Say yes to 'Amazing' - how to support small businesses now

Small retailers are on their knees. They need your support now. Another lock-down at this stage is going to be crippling for many small businesses all across the UK.

There are real people behind these small businesses. Real people who care. Real people with a passion for what they do. And these people are amazing.

So, let’s say yes to ‘Amazing’.

Say yes to Shopping Small. Say yes to spending our money with these amazing people running their amazing businesses and keep our country thriving.

Open letter to the UK to support our amazing small businesses

I really can’t believe we are facing another lockdown. Whilst I totally understand the reasons for it, I can’t say that I’m not devastated. It has been a tough year for independent retailers and so many were glad to have made it to this point, but the future for many small businesses now looks more uncertain than ever.

We need your help and we need your support. Please, please do not rush off buying from Amazon this month, just because you can’t get out to the shops. We get it, there are things that they provide which are hard to source locally and this can be the cheapest and most effective way to get hold of them.

However, wherever you can, try to think before you buy. Could I source this locally? Could I source this from a UK small business elsewhere in the country.

Could I make the decision to buy differently?

For example, if looking for a gift idea, perhaps make a choice to buy a product that supports a small business and their families rather than a large faceless corporation.

The movement towards #shoplocal and #supportsmallbusiness has been growing in momentum for a while, and now is the time to really put our money where our mouth is.

Trust me, as a small business owner, it is true that every penny really does count. I run an independent womenswear boutique, part of the retail landscape of our local community for many years. It’s no surprise to you to hear that business has been tough for a while, footfall for retail has been down for some time and the increase in competition within the ever growing marketplace has made running a retail business incredibly challenging.

Then, when we thought things couldn’t get any worse, 2020 happened.

The first lock down was hard. We tried to reinvent, to embrace technology, to move into the online space. We did whatever we could to survive. And many managed. Many did not. Now we face another lock-down. To be put in this position through no fault of our own, is a heavy blow. To close our doors for another month, in what should be the most important time in the retail year, is gut wrenching.

One of the things that did emerge from the first lock-down was how important our community really is. Our family, friends, neighbours and of course our small businesses.. run by people from our community and looking to serve our community. Many of those were the ones who really tried to pull together and bring a little joy into those dark times. Our town centres and high streets need independent shops. They make the towns interesting and inviting, create connection within the community and invest back into the community.

It’s time to support them now. I ask you to do all you can.

Seek out small businesses with websites and buy from them when you can. Find them on social media and contact them directly about their services and products. Make the choice to support independents wherever you can. Like and comment on their posts, share them and tag your friends. Help them get their message out there. Remember these small firms do not have the marketing budget of the big boys. They cannot compete in the same way to find potential customers. But we can all help. We can all do our bit to try to keep our small business going.

There are real people behind these small businesses. Real people who care. Real people with a passion for what they do. And these people are amazing. So, let’s say yes to ‘Amazing’. Say yes to Shopping Small. Say yes to spending our money with these amazing people running their amazing businesses and keep our country thriving.

We thank you for your love and support and will be forever grateful for your help through the toughest times.

JM xxx