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Small Business Saturday UK is a non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to support small businesses.
This year it falls on Saturday 7th of December 2024.
It was launched in 2013 and has since become a major event that highlights the incredible work done by small businesses throughout the country. While it is celebrated on the first Saturday of December each year, its impact lasts well beyond the day itself, fostering long-term relationships between small businesses and the communities they serve.
The goal of Small Business Saturday is to inspire consumers to shop locally and support independent businesses. This day focuses on the small but mighty shops, cafes, restaurants, service providers, and online retailers that are the heart of communities across the UK.
To celebrate Small Business Saturday, in this blog post we will firstly fly the flag for small businesses in the local area by compiling a small list of just some of our wonderful neighbours with a ‘Small Business Shout Out’. Secondly, we will let you know how you can ‘Show Your Support’ for smaller businesses in all sorts of ways, most ideas don’t cost a penny!
Join in on Saturday the 7th by sharing your favourite small businesses via socials, word of mouth, or sharing website links. Here are just 5 of the outstanding small businesses on our doorstep, with whom we work very closely with and champion their achievements.
Bouquet Florist has been established on the same corner of Cheddar, Somerset for over 40 years. In 2015 Carol and Claire Willcox- a dynamic mother-daughter duo with over 30 years floristry experience between them- took over the flower shop.
Bouquet Florist specialise in delivering fresh flowers, indoor and outdoor plants, chocolates, alcohol, and helium balloons within a 15-mile radius of their Cheddar shop daily. And for those special occasions like Weddings and Events, they are more than happy to extend their services further.
We work closely with them to supply our balloons and floral arrangements for our guests special occasions!
Hannah perused her dream of opening The Gorge Bakehouse in 2020 and now makes a living creating the most beautiful celebration cakes, treat boxes, wedding cakes and more!
With a first-class honors degree in Culinary Arts Management from Birmingham University, Hannah has a broad knowledge of the culinary industry and has gained valuable business skills that have provided her with a solid foundation to launch her small business.
Hannah often delivers to the park and pops pre-ordered goodies in lodges for guest arrivals!
Sally and Nick Hansford founded Hansfords Butchers in 1978. The original shop still runs in Shipham village with a main focus on butchery alongside a local convenience shop & newsagents.
In 2014 they expanded and opened Hansfords Deli in the village of Cheddar focusing on homemade sandwiches, cakes, pastries & pies as well as mouth-watering locally sourced delicatessen treats. It is always super busy and they often sell out, so make sure you get there in the morning to ensure you don’t miss out!
We often have a Friday treat from Hansfords as a staff lunch and frequently send guests their way to get some goodies to fuel a walk up Cheddar Gorge.
Nestled in the heart of Cheddar Gorge in one of the oldest, most photographed and documented buildings beneath the World Famous Lion Rock.
Trading since 1908, the Tea Rooms have won numerous awards along the way. Open all year round, fully licensed and serving the finest loose tea and barista coffee with an extensive menu. Lion Rock Tea Rooms is especially known for their breakfast, homemade cream teas and afternoon teas, with a ever-increasing vegan range on the menu too. With seven different themed rooms including wood burners and open fires in the winter and with a secluded garden in the summer time you will be spoilt for choice on where to sit and when to visit.
Cheddar has an abundance of gorgeous cafes but if we had to pick our favourite – it would always be Lion Rock!
Now a mobile therapist, Jo started her career as a massage therapist in 1993, having attained an Internationally recognised qualification in Holistic Massage (ITEC) at The Oxford School of Massage. She is qualified in pregnancy massages, deep tissue massage, myofascial release, manual lymphatic drainage and natural facelift massage.
Since 2010, Jo has been working in a clinic alongside Osteopaths and Chiropractors. She has developed a greater understanding of how the body works and how it can be helped along through the skilled touch of massage.
Jo frequently visits the park to offer massages in the comfort of your lodge and comes highly recommended with wonderful reviews!
Showing your support doesn’t mean spending money! 4 out of 5 of the ideas below are completely free and only require a very small amount of your time.
Of course, where you are looking to spend some money, we would always recommend seeking out and supporting a small business- as your purchase from them can change the course of their business journey rather than being lost in the data of a large corporate chain.
It’s completely FREE and it only takes a few minutes of your time… show us some love!
Follow us on Facebook , Instagram, & TikTok.
Interact with us! By this we mean – like our posts, comment on them, save them, and share them with friends. Tag us in your stay!
You may not realise the extent of it, but all of these things have such an impact on how we get shown to a wider audience. Essentially, the more you interact with us- the more people we get shown to as our posts are seen as more valued- thus helping potential new customers discover us.
You can imagine when we are competing with the likes of Center Parcs, this can be very difficult so every single ‘click’ helps!
Word-of-mouth and online reviews are crucial for small businesses.
Taking the time to leave a positive review on Google, Tripadvisor, or Facebook can significantly boost our visibility and reputation. It helps us build trust and credibility – since small businesses often don’t have the same marketing budget or resources as larger corporations, reviews act as a form of social proof that reassures new customers about the quality and reliability of a business.
Also, without boring you with technicalities – search engines like Google prioritize businesses with frequent, high-quality reviews in their search results. The more reviews a small business has, the higher it ranks, making it more discoverable to new customers. This can be a game-changer for small businesses trying to compete against bigger competitors.
Purchasing a gift voucher can help in more ways than you think!
When you purchase a gift voucher, the small business receives funds upfront. This can be particularly helpful, especially for businesses that may have fluctuating sales or need capital to cover operating costs, inventory, or payroll. It also introduces the recipient to our brand which can in turn lead to repeat custom & further word of mouth.
Tell everyone you know about us!
This could be: tagging us in your socials posts; forwarding our newsletter; sharing the link to our website; or using your referral code.
People trust personal recommendations more than any other form of advertising. When you refer someone to a small business, you’re essentially vouching for its quality and service and this can lead to new, long-term customers who might not have otherwise discovered us.
By referring others to a small business, you’re actively participating in their growth and success. It’s a great way to show your support for businesses you believe in.
Show support in difficult times. We may face challenges such as supply chain issues, staffing shortages, or changes in operating hours. Be patient and flexible when issues arise, and offer your understanding and support. We may not be able to offer such huge discounts as larger companies but will always go above and beyond to offer an unforgettable and personal service.
Pop us an email with some constructive feedback. If there are areas for improvement, give feedback in a respectful and constructive manner. Small businesses often value direct feedback from customers to help them improve and grow.