Local Assembly Members are encouraging residents to get out and celebrate independent retailers of the local high street on Saturday December 3.
Small Business Saturday is a non-commercial campaign which highlights the success of small businesses and encourages consumers to support their local community.
Islwyn AM, Rhianon Passmore, spoke of the importance of shopping locally throughout the year, not just at Christmas.
She said: “Small Business Saturday is a fantastic concept and I am sure residents in Islwyn will join me in supporting it.
“My constituency office is on Blackwood High Street and small businesses are at the heart of our community, bringing real character to it.
“In 2017-18, the Welsh Government will provide in total almost £200m in rate relief for business. This relief means these businesses across Islwyn will have more available money to invest in staff, products and increased productivity to help grow their business.
“The benefits of shopping local are obvious not least because the money stays and circulates in the local economy. I urge everyone in Islwyn to support local businesses this Saturday, and throughout the year.”
In his recent blog for Caerphilly Observer, Caerphilly AM Hefin David, called the economics behind supporting local businesses as making “perfect sense”, referencing research on spending by local authorities which showed that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business, 63p stayed in the local economy, compared to 40p with a larger business.
Plaid Cymru’s South Wales East AM, Steffan Lewis, warned that falling footfall and vacant shops could signal the end of the high street, while urging residents to lend local businesses a helping hand this Christmas.
He said: “Our town centres are at the heart of our communities. Small Business Saturday on December 3 is a chance to celebrate the local businesses that are essential to the survival of our high streets.
“High streets in the South East are facing a real challenge. National Assembly for Wales figures show that the majority of the town and city centres that have seen a decline in footfall over recent years are in this region.
“I’d like to see a new ‘buy local’ campaign to encourage Welsh consumers to shop on their high street. Small businesses should also be given a central role in the planning of the new National Infrastructure Commission for Wales.
“A thriving high street is a sign of a healthy community. More must be done to support local businesses to flourish. On Small Business Saturday, as you get started on your Christmas shopping, I urge you to pay a visit to your local high street and the small businesses that are such a vital part of our communities.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council have produced a Christmas voucher booklet containing 112 offers from local retailers encouraging residents to choose the high street.
Booklets are free, and available from locations listed below:
• Blackwood – ASDA, Maxime Cinema, Tidal Stores, Chinkles, Blackwood Miners Institute and the library
• Caerphilly – Morrisons, Malcolm Uphill Wetherspoons, Visitor Centre and the library
• Bargoed – Morrisons, Poundworld and the library
• Risca – Tesco and the library
• Ystrad Mynach – Tesco and the library
Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: “Our high streets are full of fantastic independent businesses offering great service, products and advice with a personal touch.
“Small Business Saturday serves as an important reminder that these traders need our support in order to ensure a successful future. I would encourage residents and visitors alike to visit their nearest town centre and discover what the high street has to offer.”
Mr David and Rhianon Passmore, once upon a few years ago the village I live in had a really nice little market, set up and organised entirely by volunteers,
willingly giving up there precious time on a weekend with one aim in mind and
that was to put something worthwhile and satisfying into the community, the
market was made up of LOCAL Caerphilly producers selling LOCAL meat, fish, eggs, bread, cheese, veg, cakes, and skilled LOCAL crafts people selling handmade craft – it was only held once a month but was a big success and the
locals enjoyed it, until the big bad local authority stepped in, threw its weight around and put an end to it. So stop spouting hot air and jumping on the small business Saturday band wagon with only self promotion in mind, because you and your precious local authority couldn’t give a stuff about small businesses or local businesses. If it isn’t council run, a council idea or a council pet project you don’t want to know. You couldn’t get more local than within a few yards from your doorstep, and everything on offer at the market was local produce, but Caerphilly Council would not support it and didn’t want it to go ahead. Yet again a case of AM’s, councils and councillors saying one thing and doing another.