Supporting small businesses beyond the holidays
Festive trading is a lifeline for the self-employed
Our research found more than a third of small businesses make over 20 per cent of their annual revenue between Black Friday and 24th December. But almost one in five say they won’t survive 2022 without a bumper Christmas.
That’s why we’re calling on shoppers across the UK to support local businesses, not just at Christmas, but all year round.
A successful Christmas is more important than ever
From our survey of almost 600 small business owners, we can see the weight small businesses place on Christmas – and the consequences if they struggle with sales this December.
Almost one in five small businesses won’t survive 2022 without a bumper Christmas
More than a third say they make over 20% of their annual revenue in the festive season
27% say they’re ‘not confident’ about their business’s chances
this December
Our open letter this Christmas
While much of the UK prepares for a period of well-earned festive cheer, the feeling among small business owners is likely to be rather more sombre this Christmas.
Few have been harder hit in the last two years. They’ve faced the pandemic head-on, navigated supply shortages, and adapted to a new normal. They’ve shown resilience in abundance and done all they can to stay afloat. But without a bumper Christmas trading period, one in five small businesses will permanently close in 2022.
“This Christmas needs to right the ship after a challenging two years, and set small businesses up for recovery in 2022.”
Alan Thomas, Simply Business UK CEO
Introducing our Small Business Choir
From bakers to builders, café owners to clothing professionals – we assembled a line-up of inspiring small business owners to sing their hearts out at Leyton Great Hall.
Throw in the winner of The Apprentice 2019, Tony Robinson OBE, and a host of other names from the world of business, and you’ve got yourself the Simply Business Small Business Choir!
The impact of Covid-19 on UK small business
To understand the impact of the pandemic we surveyed business owners and the self-employed from across the UK as restrictions began to ease.
Our report published in June revealed that the total anticipated cost will be upwards of £126.6 billion, as well as highlighting further business challenges and the hardest hit areas.
Challenges facing small businesses this Christmas
Our research with almost 600 small business owners shows some of the key challenges they’ll face this December.
Attracting enough customers
Earning enough
to stay in business
Impact of continuing supply chain issues
Free resources for the self-employed
Wondering what products to sell online?
If you’re exploring your options around setting up shop online, you might be considering new product ideas. We have a guide to finding products to sell online, including how to test your ideas.
How to increase footfall in a retail store or local shop
From making your shop front stand out to boosting your marketing, here are seven affordable tips to help you attract more customers.
7 tips for getting
Google reviews
Online reviews build customer trust and help get you noticed, but how do you encourage happy customers to share their experience online?
Should you get a PayPal business account?
A PaPal business account can be used for processing payments online and in person, and you can link it up to your business bank account to easily transfer your money.
Tips for managing stock control
Make sure you’re accurately measuring efficiency and performance with our step-by-step guide to stock taking.
How to sell on Instagram
Whether you have a purely online business or want to expand beyond your bricks and mortar shop, Instagram offers a visual way to get your products to a captive audience