When a contact at Solihull Chambers shared the opportunity to invite The Small Business Saturday Tour to meet some Knowle businesses, we jumped at the chance! Small Business Saturday UK celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support businesses in their communities.
This year, the Tour team once again hit the road to discover and showcase amazing small businesses across the country and this Tuesday they came to Knowle. Visit Knowle’s spokesperson Kim Hulse said, “We were delighted to take the opportunity to talk about the sense of community the village has with our array of artisan shops, independent places to eat and drink and the family run salons and professional businesses”.
First to be interviewed was Paul from Swan Yard Coffee & Kitchen, a family run cafe that has proved to be very popular from the moment it opened. Paul talked about following family tradition, realising his ambition to open a café in his home town, and how humbling the support they’ve received has been.
Lucy at Howela Childrenswear talked about how she selects her products, the new pre-loved range and what it is like starting a second business in Knowle.
The tour had a lot of fun getting creative with the sewing machine at All About The Sew’s studio while talking about the many of benefits of sewing.
Next, Emily talked about building on her Mum’s foundations at Tirebuck Recruitment. Specialising in Business Support Recruitment they meet all of their candidates as part of the personalised recruitment service delivered to clients throughout Warwickshire and the West Midlands.
Cheryl from Cheryl Steventon Glass answered the question on how you actually cut glass while she talked about her creative glass making kits and the workshops that she runs locally.
Ella’s Earth was the next stop, with Lizzy, talking about the 4am starts to select the best fruit and vegetables from Birmingham wholesale market, how the refill concept works and the sustainable products available. We even got to sample some delicious, freshly ground peanut butter.
Finally, we took the Small Business Team to The Closet, a boutique tucked away in Greville Court, just off the High Street. Rachel talked about how a career in high end fashion led her to curate a collection of fabulous but affordable ladieswear that appeals to all ages.
The Small Business Saturday team managed to meet nine Knowle small businesses in one day, shining a light on how many of Knowle’s small businesses are family businesses looking to offer a unique experience to their customers and clients. With nearly 80% of Knowle businesses being independent, you really do get the opportunity to find something different. To see the interviews, find @smallbizsatuk on Instagram.
Now celebrating its tenth year, Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign. Over the time the campaign has run in the UK it has engaged millions each year, with spend on the day topping over £1 billion. Taking place on 3rd December this year, Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, not-for-profit campaign. Small Business Saturday aims to support and celebrate small businesses, with an impact that lasts all year round.
You too can get involved in Small Business Saturday, either as a small business, or as a customer. To find out more, visit Small Business Saturday UK | Another year making a Big Difference!
