Residents across Manchester are being urged to get behind the city’s small businesses as part of a national drive to sing the praises of independent companies.
Manchester City Council is backing the Small Business Saturday campaign to celebrate the work done by small businesses and the important role they play within communities.
Residents are being urged to support their local small businesses during the day on December 7 – such as by doing their Christmas shopping at independent retailers, eating at independent restaurants or buying their fruit and veg from small local suppliers.
And small businesses are being invited to learn what they can do to get involved in the campaign, as well as get advice from experts about free business services available to them during an event in Levenshulme on Monday November 25.
A national Small Business Saturday campaign bus will be parked on the green next to Stockport Road and Chapel Street, while other workshops about what small businesses can do to market themselves, will be held in the nearby M19 bar.
Cllr Sue Murphy, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Small businesses are often the backbone of their communities, working closely with local people and providing vital services. But, like many of us, they have been struggling over the past few years.
“Small Business Saturday is an excellent opportunity for people across the city to get behind these small companies, and the build up to Christmas is an excellent time to show your support by buying some of your gifts and festive supplies from smaller independent shops.”
Residents are being asked to support businesses such as Chariot Office Supplies, which was founded in east Manchester in 1977.
The company is based on Ashton New Road, over the road from the Etihad Stadium, but were originally located on Parcel Street, current site of the stadium’s pitch.
Sales director Paul McCarthy said: “We could have moved away at one time, when we needed to expand our premises – but we are committed to this area, so we decided to stay.
“As an independent company, we take pride in our local reputation. I believe it means more when you deal with people who are local to you.
Paul added: “When a customer takes a bulk delivery from us, it reduces the amount of journeys our drivers make, which helps us meet our environmental targets. So when we send the order, we include a free basket of fruit, which we source from one of our customers – a wholesaler at New Smithfield Market.”
The recently-opened Sanskruti is contributing to the flavour of Fallowfield while fulfilling its owner’s dream.
Owner Hemali Shukla has been cooking since she was 10 and wanted to share her passion. She identified a gap in the market for a restaurant serving purely vegetarian and vegan Indian meals, appealing both to those with stricter dietary requirements and people fancying a change from more frequently-found fare.
Although the 50-seater restaurant has only been open since September, she says it has been well received locally, saying: “People have been saying that the area needed something like this.”
For more information visit www.sanskrutirestaurant.co.uk
For information about support available for Manchester business visit www.manchester.gov.uk/business.
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