Shop Small campaign launched to save our local businesses

AUSTRALIANS are being encouraged to throw their support behind small businesses by spending up big at their stores. Find out how it can benefit you.

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AUSTRALIANS recognise that small businesses are a vital cog in the nation's economic wheel but they often forget to support them.

About 94 per cent of Australian consumers acknowledge that small businesses play an important part in the community but many admit to not helping them thrive by failing to spend any money at their stores.

More than two thirds of small business owners also admitted to feeling forgot by their local communities.

The Shop Small campaign, 'A Big Month for Small Business' is being launched on Thursday to help breathe life into the nation's small retail operators and to encourage consumers to spend in their local communities and help make smaller businesses grow.

American Express Australia's managing director Rachel Stocks said small businesses were the "backbone of our society" and Australians need to be more supportive of them to ensure they can prosper.

"In the month of November we are encouraging Australians to consider supporting small business ... it's the right thing to do,'' she said.

"People these days want a one-stop shop like a supermarket and that does affect small business."

The Galaxy research found 58 per cent of Australians believe small business helps give a community a sense of identity and it provides convenience for consumers.

And the feedback on smaller operators is positive - nearly one in two people (45 per cent) believe small business owners deliver superior customer service.

Small Business Saturday was launched in 2010 in the US to address the growing difficulties small businesses were having after the global financial crisis.

Since then, the 'Shop Small' movement founded by American Express has spread to multiple countries including the UK, Canada and Hong Kong with increasing global PR and marketing awareness.

The Council of Small Business of Australia's executive director Peter Strong said the domination of the nation's retail giants has made it tough for small businesses to compete but urged Australians to throw their support behind them.

"People are quite happy to shop at the small retailers,'' he said.

"But the only place people can go to is often the shopping mall and the rents charged there are so high so it's very hard to run a business.

"If you open your business up outside the mall you'll find the customer can't actually get to your business.''

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SMALL BUSINESS, BIG VALUE

 - 94 per cent of Australian consumers recognise the importance of small business to their local community but admit to forgetting to support them

- 90 per cent feel sadness, sympathy or disappointment when small businesses close down in their community

- 58 per cent believe small business gives the community identity, 58 per cent believe it provides convenience and 45 per cent believe it delivers superior customer service

- 57 per cent feel guilt and regret they realise they should have purchased products or services from a local business

- Two-thirds of shop owners feel forgot by their local communities

- One in four business owners feel no connection at all to their local communities

Source: Galaxy survey of 1000+ people

Small business

SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN

News Corp Australia invites readers to join the Shop Small movement, founded by American Express.

All you need to do is shop at small businesses, particularly in your own community, to show your support for Australia's smaller retailers and service providers.

Two million small businesses in this country need our support. Let's make Shop Small a big deal in November.

Find more information for consumers and shop owners at shopsmallaustralia.com.

Pledge support for the movement and your local shops using the Twitter hashtag #ShopSmallAU and on the website's Facebook tab.