Articles

Small businesses to be celebrated with start of Festive Saturday events at The AMP

Date Posted: 11:08 AM on Wed, 30 November 2022

Gedling Borough Council will be promoting small and independent businesses across the borough as part of Small Business Saturday, starting with the launch of Festive Saturdays in Arnold Town Centre to celebrate the opening of The AMP, a new development in the town centre supporting small, independent businesses.

This Saturday, 3 December, is Small Business Saturday, a date organised to promote small businesses, both those with physical stores and those who operate online. This includes independent shops and restaurants as well as business to business operations, such as accountants and digital marketers. Many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events and offering promotions. The AMP, which was officially opened last month, has five independent business unit occupants, four of which are now open to the public. They include a tearooms, a deli and a wine and food tasting experience. The businesses opening to the public will be celebrated this weekend as part of Small Business Saturday.

The campaign aims to encourage people to shop locally but is not just about spending money. Customers are encouraged to do other things to help highlight the small business they love by leaving positive reviews, telling friends and family about their experience or sharing posts on social media to show their support.

There are 100’s of small and independent business all across Gedling Borough, with businesses on high streets, shopping precincts and industrial estates, as well as the brand new stores who have just opened their doors at the recently opened AMP in Arnold Town Centre.

To coincide with Small Business Saturday the council will be promoting independent retailers across social media as well as hosting festive markets, organised by The Rural Retailer. The events will include live music and independent market stall traders selling items such as wax melts, cakes, homewares, gifts, sweets, artwork, handmade cards and craft items. The markets will take place outside The AMP in Arnold Town Centre in the newly created event space, and take place from 10am-2pm on 3, 10 and 17 December in the run up to Christmas.

Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE said;

“We have some truly fantastic small and independent business across the borough and this is a great time to highlight these and show what the borough has to offer. We’re very pleased to be launching a series of festive events in Arnold Town Centre at The AMP, which is a showcase of how we are supporting small businesses and we’re delighted that the units are now open to the public.

When you shop locally, you’re not just supporting a business, you’re supporting a friend, a neighbour, a member of the community, and this is something we want to help encourage wherever we can.

With the ongoing cost of living crisis and the impact of Covid-19 still with us, we want residents to champion their favourite small businesses and show their support, now more than ever.”