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What Is Small Business Saturday UK & Why Charities Should Get Involved?

26 October 2022

In our recent survey, small businesses revealed that they would be using Small Business Saturday to highlight their charitable giving and sales fundraising.

Presenting corporate and community fundraisers an opportunity to maximise this support and turn one of the year's biggest shopping days into a fundraising day. Read on to learn what it's all about and a few ideas to help charities get started.

10% donated to charity

For ten years, the team at Small Business Saturday UK led by Michelle Ovens CBE have been empowering the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses, online, in offices all over the UK - championing, promoting and inspiring them all year round.

Small Business, Big Difference:

  • £1.1 billion was spent with small businesses across the UK on the eighth Small Business Saturday, according to estimates.
  • 15.4 million people turned out to support small businesses in 2020.
  • SMEs ( 0 - 250 employees) have a turnover of an estimated £2.3 trillion (52% of the UK economy).*
  • There has been a 60% growth in small businesses fundraising through their sales since 2020.

The support of SMEs culminates in #SmallBizSatUK - which this year takes place on the 3rd of December - a day that encourages consumers to shop local and shop small. With Christmas around the corner, this big day represents a significant opportunity for many indie brands to increase sales. This means it is also a fantastic opportunity for sales fundraising and for brands to promote their charitable giving and Christmas fundraising campaigns.

The festive season is the season of goodwill and that goes for the business sector too, as already mentioned, many will be using Small Business Saturday to amplify their charitable giving. In turn, thanks to the reach of this powerful day this will boost brand awareness of the charity they are supporting. Which demonstrates a fantastic opportunity for fundraisers to get behind their business supporters.

With its reach and influence, Small Business Saturday gives charities a chance to help their business supporters to raise vital charitable income by encouraging people to shop small. Whilst at the same time educating the millions of businesses taking part in the day about sustainable ways that they can fundraise for charity - sales fundraising.

Do this via:

  • Social media
  • Spotlight a business in a newsletter
  • Tell a small businesses story in a blog
  • Send a press release to local media about small businesses supporters
  • Create a video thanking business supporters that can be shared far and wide

Be creative but don’t miss out.

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Don't miss the new free #GiftforGood fundraising toolkit, created to help fundraisers connect with businesses this festive season.

*Sources:

-https://workforgood.co.uk/charity-resource-toolkit/learning-and-development/new-sales-fundraising-research/

- https://www.fsb.org.uk/uk-small-business-statistics.html

- https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/about-us

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