Show support for Leighton-Linslade’s entrepreneurs on Small Business Saturday

On Saturday, December 5, and Tuesday, December 1, residents are encouraged to support local companies, from retailers and tradespeople to accountants and marketing gurus, thanks to the grassroots, non-commercial campaign.

On both days, businesses taking part will be celebrating the day on social media, asking residents to like and share posts to raise awareness of small companies, while some may be offering discounts or special offers too.

Chloe Peters, the owner of Jam on Toast Marketing and co-founder of The Bee’s Knees Business Club, said: “I think it’s really important to have a campaign that champions small businesses because it benefits the economy and you are investing money back into your town.

“It keeps people in jobs, adds to the diversity and variety of the high street and brings people together.

“Everybody has that really strong small business ethos in terms of supporting one another and helping each other out.”

The campaign is now in its eighth year. In 2019, Jam on Toast Marketing had its logo featured on the side of a Small Business Saturday bus.

The bus usually journeys from Scotland to the south of England to promote local companies, and when Chloe realised that Bedfordshire was not on their map, she persuaded the bus to take a tour to Leighton Buzzard this year, albeit a virtual one due to the pandemic.

Realising that not all families may be in a financial position to support local businesses, she added: “I would support Small Business Saturday by engaging with small businesses on social media, or pop in and say ‘hi’, to help spread the word.”

One entrepreneur who is proud to be representing Leighton Buzzard this year is Toni Cassidy, owner of Glamavan, who has been selected as one of the campaign’s ‘Small Biz 100’.

Toni runs a mobile, and now virtual, service for children’s pamper, slumber and picnic parties, offering fun activities from nail painting to chocolate face masks, while she also runs an eco-friendly glitter bar hire firm.

Prior to Small Business Saturday (December 5), 100 chosen businesses are featured across the campaign’s social media platforms. The tour bus will virtually ‘visit’ Leighton Buzzard on December 1.

Toni said: “They have asked me to do a webinar about pivoting your business during Covid, talking about the steps I took, the challenges, and how I launched a digital business during lockdown.

“I’m also thinking of doing a big social media shout-out and promoting as many people as possible.

“This campaign champions the small businesses and it is needed more than ever during this time. 2020 has had its ups and downs, but we have to face the challenges and power through.”

Toni has been running Glamavan for three and a half years and was a police officer becoming a ‘Glitter Queen’.

Using her passion for the beauty industry, she plans in time to expand Glamavan as a franchise, and knows all about the importance of support for local businesses, thanking the NatWest Accelerator Programme in Milton Keynes for its help.

Meanwhile, in her latest big announcement, she has collaborated with the toy maker Rubik’s to create a Rubik’s Eco Glitter Gift Set.

Toni added: “The Small Business Saturday campaign is what’s needed at the moment. If small businesses go, it really affects employment, more than big companies. Please shop small and help the economy.”

LB First and Leighton-Linslade Town Council will also be celebrating Small Business Saturday.

Both their social media channels will be helping to promote the campaign.

> LB First and Leighton-Linslade Town Council are championing local companies

LB First chairma Gennaro Borrelli said: “The FSB and LB First are supporters of this campaign. For many years we have championed Small Business Saturday and will be delighted once again to be involved in 2020.

“This means a great deal to the town. It will put Leighton-Linslade on the map and highlight our fantastic independent businesses.

“We offer our congratulations to Toni at Glamavan, for a superb application and becoming a Small Biz 100 winner. Toni joins La Belle Cake Company, who were winners in 2018.”

A Leighton-Linslade Town Council spokeswoman said: “The town council has celebrated SBS for three or so years now and we have a small annual budget allocated to support local activities.

“This year we celebrate two local businesses who caught the eye of the national campaign team, Glamavan and Jam On Toast. We are currently working directly with the two businesses to finalise our local campaign.”

>‘Get the conversation started about how wonderful your business really is’

There are many ways the town’s residents and companies can get involved with Small Business Saturday on December 5.

On Tuesday, December 1 at 11am, Toni from Glamavan, via the SBS social media channels, will be talking about how she adapted her business during lockdown.

Meanwhile, as part of the campaign, local mentors will offer virtual mentoring appointments for small businesses.

Chloe added: “Local businesses will also be offered posters and social media assets to get the conversation started about how wonderful their business is.”

Residents are invited to like, share and engage with social media posts and do their Christmas shopping in town. Toni will be promoting businesses on social media too. To join her webinar, keep an eye on the website https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/the-tour#workshopswhere there will be a link to register.

Businesses are invited to sign up to the SBS mailing list and there is also a free Small Business Finder that local businesses can sign up to at https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/small-business-finder

>If you would like the LBO to promote your small business on December 1 or 5, send a message with its web link to our Facebook page on the day.