Campaign to 'put small businesses on the map'

A town's small businesses say they are “grateful” to feature in a nationwide social media campaign urging people to shop local.

Six firms in Chippenham, Wiltshire, are being filmed as part of Small Business Saturday, which works to support 5.5 million independent businesses across the UK.

Mark Williams, co-owner of Coffee on the Corner, said it’s “not easy” to thrive as a small business at the moment.

Chippenham is one of 23 UK towns and cities to feature in the video, created to mark Small Business Saturday on 7 December.

“There’s been an increase in empty shops,” Mr Williams told the BBC.

Michelle Ovens, Director of Small Business Saturday, agrees there’s been problems “on every front.”

“There’s high inflation, high interest rates, staff costs and all input costs have gone up, energy bills have been incredibly high,” she said.

Mr Williams said social media has been a big help for his business, which opened on New Road last year.

“It’s definitely a big help for us.

"When we first opened we filmed the whole build. Our following built up before we even opened.

"So any social media that we can get involved in is a great benefit to us.”

Wil Hodgson, co-owner of Hepcats Barbershop and Beauty Parlour, has worked at the family barbers for nearly a decade and said the high street is changing.

“People in Chippenham say ‘it’s all coffee shops and salons’ but that’s because everything else is online.”

Mr Hodgson urged small businesses in the town, where 45 per cent of shops are independent, to “find their niche".

“If you just do what everyone else is doing then you’re in a crowded marketplace,” he added.

“If you do what you want to do - if you’re true to yourself and your own vision - then it’s not at all.”

For Fred Guscott, who owns not-for-profit music and arts centre The Cause, it’s a good time to own a small business in the town.

“Since lockdown we’ve actually been recovering really well, and there’s a lot of people moving into Chippenham as well.

"We’re seeing our numbers increasing, we’re finding it quite a vibrant town.

“We struggle to get a profile so anything that Small Business Saturday can do to help us on that, we are grateful.”

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