Cairngorm shoppers urged to support local businesses
Shoppers in the strath are being urged to help their local high streets by getting the tills of businesses at the heart of the community ringing this weekend.
There will be two events running with the Federation of Small Businesses supporting the grassroots campaign Small Business Saturday run by Small Is Big CIC.
The community interest company is not-for-profit, existing to serve the interests of small businesses and help them in the battle to survive against major retailers and online shopping giants.
The next day Kingussie is hosting its ever popular Christmas Shopping Day which will include the town’s festive lights being switched on, visits to Santa in his grotto and other seasonal fun.
Local Highland councillors Bill Lobban and Dave Fallows joined Amanda Frazer, Highlands and Islands Chair of the FSB at George Gow Butcher's in Kingussie earlier this week to promote Small Business Saturday.
They both said that small businesses made a vital contribution to the economy of Badenoch and Strathspey and the wider Highlands, and urged shoppers to get behind them in the crucial run-up to Christmas.
Councillor Lobban commented: "Small businesses play a critical role in the economic health of our communities and are at the heart of meeting local needs.
"Without them, we would see far more of the seemingly inexorable march towards centralised big brand shopping and an inevitable loss of community identity."
Councillor Fallows said: "We are both delighted to show our support for this initiative on the part of the FSB. Small businesses bring choice, quality and an individual face to face contact that multi-nationals can never hope to match.
"We must all treasure and support our local businesses provided by hard working local people."
Last year some 16.5 million people shopped in a small business on Small Business Saturday across the UK.
Ms Frazer said: "Badenoch and Strathspey is packed full of truly amazing small businesses, representing a very wide range of sectors.
"The list of producers and service providers includes everything from fine foods and drinks to machinery and electronics, top quality crafts, construction trades, digital media, tourist accommodation and activity providers.
"The list goes on and on.
"We would urge small businesses to get involved this Saturday – there is still time. It is an ideal opportunity to encourage Christmas shoppers to show their support for small, local businesses, this isn’t just a retail campaign."
It’s easy to get involved with Small Busines Saturday – visit www.SmallBusinessSaturdayUK.com or Facebook, SmallBusinessSaturdayUK or @SmallBizSatUK for more information and promotional tools.
