Independent traders in Exeter are preparing to join what has been billed as the UK's biggest ever celebration of small business.
The nation's five million small businesses, which provide 60 per cent of private sector jobs and nearly 50 per cent of private sector turnover, are the focus of the first Small Business Saturday on December 7. The campaign is intended to highlight small business success and encourage consumers to shop locally and support small businesses in their community.
The Federation of Small Businesses has teamed up with Exeter Trails and the city council to produce posters which participating shops can display in their windows.
The Lord Mayor of Exeter and city MP Ben Bradshaw will be touring independent businesses in Fore Street and Cowick Street to show their support.
Nigel Hillier, the FSB's Exeter chairman, said: "We have also printed 5,000 leaflets which a team of us will be distributing across Exeter to explain what the day is about and why they should shop where they see the posters.
"We will also be at the Christmas Market on Cathedral Green distributing leaflets to encourage people to look out for shops with the posters whether in the city centre or further afield."
In Fore Street, from 10am to 5pm there will be carol singers, a string quartet, a festive wrapping station and the chance of children to find the Festive Ferret in all participating shops in order to win a prize.
Fore Street Traders spokeswoman Mattie Richardson said: "This is a coming together of a lot of independent shops. We offer something different from the mass of chain stores in the centre of the city and we hope to attract a lot of people down 'our end' on the 7th.
"It's a great chance for everyone to have some fun and to get a really original gift or three whilst they're about it. We're all offering different great deals on the day as well."
In St Thomas, traders will be launching their own Christmas Shopping Challenge, which will give shoppers who collect stickers from 10 local businesses a chance to enter a prize draw.
Sue Taylor, at Cafe@36 in Cowick Street, said: "I think Small Business Saturday is a really good idea because there needs to be more awareness of the role independent businesses play in local communities.
"You get more money coming into the local economy if you shop with small, locally owned independent businesses."
As part of Small Business Saturday, the city council is issuing small independent traders in Exeter with permits which can be passed onto customers in advance of the day, allowing them to park in council-run pay and display car parks for double the length of time they pay for.
The FSB is also leading a Keep Trade Local event in Cullompton.
