Small Business Saturday spend hits record high

Small Business Saturday achieved record spending across the UK with a four per cent jump from last year's event.

On 2nd December independent retailers came together to promote the annual event and figures from event founder American Express showed that an estimated £748 million was spent with small businesses across the UK on the day. This was up 4% from the £717 million spent on Small Business Saturday last year, with 56% of those aware of the day saying they spent more than usual.

This was helped by an 87% backing from local authorities, up from last year's 80%.

There were more than 115,000 tweets about Small Business Saturday, trending at number one in the UK, while Facebook and Instagram posts were also up on 2016.

"In its fifth year, Small Business Saturday has once again seen a boost in spending with Britain's small independent businesses," Small Business Saturday campaign director Michelle Ovens said.

"There's been a phenomenal response from small businesses in communities across the UK again this year so it's fantastic that a record amount was spent with them this Small Business Saturday."

Charlotte Duerden, general manager, American Express UK, says, ‘We are proud to have supported Small Business Saturday since it was launched in the UK five years ago and are delighted to see it become an established day in the shopping calendar. The British public have once again shown their support for small businesses across the country and the vital contribution they make to their communities and the economy.'

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