9 December 2014
Norwich has a plethora of shopping options and many of these are drawn from the wonderful array of small businesses that populate the city. This past Saturday, 6th December, a national event took place called Small Business Saturday that ‘exists to support, inspire and promote small businesses’. [1]
Norwich Green Party welcomes this event and has championed localism and support for small businesses for many years. Recently, councillors in Town Close have been working on improving access to shops in Suffolk Square and in the past the Green Party has campaigned against the building of a Tesco mini-store on the idiosyncratic Unthank Road.
Money spent on local companies stays longer in the local economy, circulates 6 more times before leaving the area than the same money spent in a supermarket. For every £1 spent in an independent shop – 50p goes back into the local community. Small Business Saturday is as much about getting us to think about how and where we shop – as it is about the impact of our spending choices. Local shops are a vital community hub, good for our economy. Local shops make their area distinctive and attractive and give people a reason to visit a particular place, bringing footfall to other businesses.
Lesley Grahame, Norwich South candidate said: “Shopping local is a far better experience than shopping somewhere large and anonymous – you get good value, have the option to visit specialist places and you meet people you know.”
Greens have long advocated the importance of council procurement processes that enable local firms to bid for local work. Local firms generally employ local people with an interest in their local communities, and every reason to give their best.
Councillor Simeon Jackson said: “Whilst much of the focus of government, both national and local, is on partnerships with the big businesses on the high street, we want to point the spotlight on the local, independent businesses that make Norwich unique but are also most in need of support and encouragement. Magdalen Street, for example, provides a unique shopping experience with a fantastic eclectic mix of second-hand boutiques, cafes and specialist shops, but it gets little support from government programmes and partnerships.”
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