INDEPENDENT businesses in Rugby took centre stage last weekend as the town joined the national Small Business Saturday campaign.
Mayor Barbara Brown, Rugby MP John Slinger and Rugby First Business Director Linda Lowne visited small businesses in the town centre on Saturday (December 6).
Businesses visited on the day included Curtains By Design, The Annex Studios, Hokey Poke Games, Mala Beds, The Brownie Addict, Hunt’s Bookstore, Saray Restaurant, Optical People, Jean’s Flowers, Wild and Free, and Terracotta.
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots campaign which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’.
The day itself takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December each year, but the campaign – now in its 13th year – aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.
Linda Lowne said: “We had a great day on Saturday and met so many small business owners. They are an amazing bunch of people and so passionate and enthusiastic about their business and Rugby town centre.
“Each business is very different and unique offering a variety of excellent gifts and services. We are extremely lucky to have them based here in the town centre and it would be great if you can support them not only over the next few weeks but throughout the year.”
Coun Barbara Brown said: “Small local businesses are the backbone of our economy, helping to create jobs and keep spending local which is particularly important at this time of year.
“Rugby has a wonderfully diverse retail offer, with so many fantastic small and independent businesses and initiatives such as Small Business Saturday help raise awareness of what we have on offer locally.”
John Slinger said: “I always enjoy talking to local business owners, shopkeepers, stallholders and entrepreneurs. I want to hear about the great work they’re doing and anything that I can do to support them.
“They care so much about our town and community and the word that I heard repeatedly was the importance of partnership in achieving an even more thriving economy locally which contributes to and is influenced by everything else that is going on in the town centre.
“We have 4,245 small and medium businesses in the constituency. They provide vital jobs, but they are also community institutions we can all be proud of.”
Visit www.smallbusinesssaturday.com for more information on Small Business Saturday.
