- Almost half (46%) of small businesses report a rise in new customers purchasing from their business in the last six months
- 69% of small businesses have felt supported by their customers over the past year
- A third (33%) of Brits shop at small businesses more now than before the pandemic
London, UK, June 16, 2021 – The pandemic has prompted a rise in shoppers choosing to support their local independents, providing a noticeable boost to small business owners, according to new research1 commissioned by American Express (NYSE: AXP) and Small Business Saturday.
The research, conducted by Opinium, reveals that almost half (46%) of small businesses have seen a rise in new customers purchasing from their business over the past six months.
Shoppers have rallied around their local small businesses throughout the past year, as they have faced extraordinary challenges brought about by the pandemic. Indeed, a third (33%) of Brits said they shop in person at their local small businesses more now than they did before the pandemic hit.
In a time when people were encouraged to stay close to home, convenience naturally ranked highly among the reasons for shopping small (45%), though a heightened sense of community spirit played a part in bringing about this change too, with the fact that small businesses employ locally (35%) and give back to the local community (25%) being cited as factors.
This increased sense of consumer backing has been keenly felt by small businesses, with almost 7 in 10 (69%) saying they have felt supported by customers in the local community over the past 12 months. Respondents stated that this support went beyond simply providing custom, to include smaller acts of kindness like recommending businesses to friends and family. Moreover, a further 69% of small businesses said they believe a greater sense of community spirit has developed among the small businesses owners themselves in their local area throughout the last year.
Michelle Ovens, Founder of Small Business Britain and Director of Small Business Saturday, commented: “As this research shows, small businesses have remained at the heart of communities throughout the pandemic, and customers are returning that loyalty by supporting them more and more. This support needs to continue, and grow, throughout the summer to ensure the small business-led recovery we hope to see.”
Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, added: “Running a small business during a pandemic has been immensely challenging for our nation’s small business owners. That’s why it’s so good to see that people have rallied around their local small businesses and are shopping with them more frequently. We hope our Shop Small campaign will encourage people to continue to show their support for the small businesses that make such a difference to our local communities.”
As part of its Shop Small Offer, American Express is giving Cardmembers a £5 statement credit when they spend £15 or more in any participating small business across the country until 25 June 2021.2
American Express is founder and principal supporter of Small Business Saturday. Last year, shoppers spent an estimated £1.1 billion in small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday.3
Natalie Demetriou, owner of Lost in the Lanes, Brighton, serves customers as the shop participates in the American Express Shop Small campaign, which gives Cardmembers £5 back when they spend £15 or more in participating businesses from now until 25 June. New research from American Express and Small Business Saturday shows that small businesses have been boosted by heightened community spirit as a result of the pandemic, with 46% of small businesses reporting a rise in new customers purchasing from their business in the last six months. Photo credit: David Parry/PA Wire
Nky Iweka, owner of Pitanga, London, serves customer Jennie as the shop participates in the American Express Shop Small campaign, which gives Cardmembers £5 back when they spend £15 or more in participating businesses from now until 25 June. New research from American Express and Small Business Saturday shows that small businesses have been boosted by heightened community spirit as a result of the pandemic, with 46% of small businesses reporting a rise in new customers purchasing from their business in the last six months. Photo credit: Matt Crossick/PA Wire
