SHOP LOCAL ON SATURDAY AS `SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY' TAKES OFF IN UK by Benson Agoha

* Small Business Saturday takes place on Saturday.

UK's first ever Small Business Saturday will be held on Saturday, December 7th, and is expected to encourage shoppers to buy local.

Kingsley Otubushin, the co-ordinator of the scheme for the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said the idea which orinated in the US is all about encouraging everyone in the UK to support small businesses, by buying locally both on the day and beyond.

Beginning from Saturday December 7th, 2013, every first Saturday in December will be dedicated to shopping locally as `Small Business Saturday' scheme.

The nation-wide organisers said "This year will see the first Small Business Saturday in the UK, held on one of the busiest shopping days of the year - the first Saturday in December."

They said all kinds of small businesses should get involved, "so know that whether you are a family business, local shop, online business, wholesaler or small manufacturer, Small Business Saturday is supporting you!"

* Help Local Business, help yourself.

To take part, businesses are encouraged to take advantage of the expected increase in footfall into their shops by offering discounts and putting measures in place to attract new and retain existing customers.

Small Business Saturday offers guidance packs that explains how it is done. Interested parties should register online by visiting [ http://www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/], and a pack will be sent out to them.

Help your local Borough by buying locally on Saturday 7th, December, 2013.

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