Businesses in the Lancaster district are gearing up for the first ever Small Business Saturday UK, a nationwide event taking place on Saturday 7th December to champion local independent businesses.
Lancaster City Council is supporting the event by encouraging as many small businesses as possible to offer special promotions.
New start-ups and budding entrepreneurs are being offered free pitchs at the council’s markets in Lancaster and Morecambe.
Existing traders plan to mark the day with a range of special offers and discounts for their customers. Look out for the Small Business Saturday UK for participating traders.
Residents are being challenged to ‘keep it local’ by doing all or most of your shopping on December 7 with independent small businesses.
Councillor Janice Hanson, cabinet member with responsibility for economic regeneration, said: “Small businesses play an important part in our local economy, so this initiative is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on them and help them thrive. We have a wealth of small, independently-owned businesses in the district and we hope everyone will really get behind the scheme and give them the support they deserve.”
A number of local businesses have signed up to take part, including:
* JuJu’s Boutique, Winter Gardens, Morecambe
* Arteria gift shop & art gallery, Brock Street, Lancaster
* The Handmade + Vintage Market, The Storey, Lancaster
* Atkinsons Coffee at the Shop, The Hall, China Street and The Music Room, Lancaster
* Sixteen Twelve, Lancaster Charter Market
* Morecambe’s Festival Market
* Charter Market, Lancaster
* Assembly Rooms Market, Lancaster
* Total Strategy Games, Lancaster Charter Market
* Kathy’s Hairstylist, Sun Street, Lancaster
* Frankly Media
* Inspiration Gifts, Lancaster Leisure Park
* Lewis’s Coffee Shop, New Street, Lancaster
* Alchemy, Morecambe
* Bare Necessities, Princes Crescent, Bare
* Enchanted Kids, New St, Lancaster
* Studio Arts, North Rd, Lancaster
* Black Bear Computers
* Woodies Crook o Lune Snacks
* Baxters Potted Shrimps, Thornton Rd, Morecambe
New local businesses have also been given the opportunity to bring exciting new products to the council’s markets for free on the day. Keep an eye out for Liberty print children’s wear, Celtic blankets, stone carvings, iced cakes and sugar modelling and Made in Wray bespoke wooden products at Lancaster’s Charter Market and hand-made board games, giant posters and Christmas wreaths at the Assembly Rooms Market.