Support Small Business Saturday – Saturday 6 December

This Saturday (6 December) is Small Business Saturday; a specific day to celebrate our local independent retailers. One criticism of city shopping centres is that they all look the same, with the major brands all represented in each and every city and major town. It is the independent retailers that give variety to each town centre, and Carlisle is no exception.

In my role I look after and speak to a lot of local independent retailers, and it is clear that in nearly every case they are bursting with passion. These retailers have expert knowledge about their products, which is often lacking in the larger stores. This, in my view, leads to a much richer shopping experience, and one that is very much worth protecting.

It is important that we all give our support to the smaller retailers to ensure they survive long into the future in our town centres. Wherever you are in the country, before you go shopping on Saturday give some thought to see if there is a local small business near you that you can use. Whether it is a big purchase such as a bike, or a small spend on a coffee, give a local small business a try, and more importantly, don’t just do it for this Saturday, try making it a habit going forward.

Grant Smith, Partner