Traders across Manchester will be providing a host of offers and events for customers old and new on Small Business Saturday.
The annual national celebration of small businesses returns on Saturday 5 December – the busiest shopping day of the year.
Market traders and independent shops are already confirmed to be taking part in areas including Chorlton, Hulme, Levenshulme, Longsight, Moss Side, Moston, Rusholme and the Northern Quarter.
Participating businesses will be tempting potential customers with unique Christmas gift ideas, special promotions, offers and discounts.
Caribbean takeaway Buzz Rocks, on Moston Lane, is inviting customers to join them for a special ‘Reggae-oke’ experience. Customers at the Jamaican food outlet will be encouraged grab the mic and sing their favourite reggae tunes.
Farida Anderson MBE, founder of the Buzz Rocks outlets, said: “Small Business Saturday is really important to Manchester as it brings home the importance of what local businesses do in their area. We have a responsibility – as local businesses – to link with the community, knowing who our customers are and sourcing local products.
“Small business is all about connecting with people, providing a more personal customer experience. We want to build a relationship with every customer that sets foot through our doors, we want to know who you are and how you are, because we want you to come back, again and again.”
Confirmed Small Business Saturday activities and events in Manchester include:-
- A special market outside Moss Side Leisure Centre, with a diverse range of independent local goods, gifts, food and drink on offer
- A friendship festival in Longsight, complete with Christmas lights switch-on, seasonal songs sung by local school groups and an open day at the Pakistan Community Centre
- A ‘Man versus Pie’ event at the Union, Levenshulme, promoting new local artisan bakery ‘Life of Pie’
- A Business Enterprise Day and Christmas Market at Hulme High Street – traders will be able to get practical advice and support to grow their business, while consumers can indulge in seasonal offers at the area’s Christmas Market
The council can provide participating businesses with Small Business Saturday window posters, to increase awareness of the initiative.
Councillor Bernard Priest, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Small businesses work hard year-round providing unique products and services and can help to give an area a real sense of identity.
“I’d encourage all small businesses in Manchester to join in on Small Business Saturday with their own special events, offers and activities, to give consumers even more reason to visit their local district centre – where they can see for themselves the positive impact small businesses make to the character of their community.”
For more info about Small Business Saturday events and offers across the city – plus videos of participating traders explaining the importance of Small Business Saturday and what they are doing on the day – visit www.manchester.gov.uk/smallbizsat, or use #SmallBizSatMCR on Twitter.
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