Looking ahead to this year’s Black Friday, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman Mike Cherry said:
“A lot of small firms are pinning their hopes to a bumper festive season after last year’s restrictions debacle. We’re urging everyone to get behind small businesses wherever they can over the coming weeks, starting today – let’s make this a Small Business Black Friday.
“Rather than reaching for the same old brands – where deals might not be all they seem in any case – shop bespoke, receive one-to-one personal service and give some new restaurants, cafes and pubs a try.
“Concerningly, only one in four small retailers are expecting an improvement in performance between now and the end of the year, despite this being the all-important golden quarter. High utility prices, labour shortages and a forthcoming hike in the jobs tax are all stifling confidence.
“It’s against this backdrop that we’re urging everyone to shop small and, where possible, buy direct.
“Online marketplaces open up a lot of opportunities, but usually come with significant fees for small firms – buying in-store, through a firm’s own website or by phone, typically means a business can keep more of what they make.”
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About FSB
As the UK’s largest business support group, FSB is the voice of the UK’s small businesses and the self-employed. Established over 40 years ago to help its members succeed in business, FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by its members, for its members. As the UK’s leading business campaigner, FSB is focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed.
FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including access to finance, business banking, legal advice and support along with a powerful voice in Government. Each year FSB also runs the UK’s Celebrating Small Business Awards. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk. You can follow us on twitter @fsb_policy and on Instagram @fsb_uk.