With the festive period just around the corner the CLA, is urging Christmas shoppers to support local rural businesses this Christmas.
The call comes ahead of Small Business Saturday, a grassroots campaign to encourage consumers to 'buy local', which will be taking place on the first shopping Saturday in December (5 December).
MPs have also tabled a Westminster Hall debate for this afternoon (1 December) to discuss the merits of Small Business Saturday.
CLA President Ross Murray said: “We are delighted to support Small Business Saturday.
“Small, independent businesses are the lifeblood of the rural economy. They provide much-needed jobs, goods, and services for the local community and, as such, they should be supported all year around, not just at Christmas.”
Small Business Saturday 2014 was a runaway success
• 16.5 million People shopped in a small independent business on this day in 2014, representing a 20% increase in footfall on 2013 or 2.7 million more shoppers
• 64% of UK consumers were aware of the day, a 33% increase on 2013
• Over 3.5 million Facebook views and #SmallBizSatUK trending at number one all day on 6th December 2014
• 55% of Local Authorities and hundreds of MPs supported the campaign
