THE importance of small businesses was hammered home at a promotional event in Aberystwyth.

Small Business Saturday, the annual, not-for-profit campaign that puts small, independent businesses in the national spotlight, takes place on 3 December.

And to promote the event, the town was visited as part of a 29-date UK bus tour.

The team were on hand to provide free marketing packs and information for small business owners about how to get involved in the campaign ahead of Small Business Saturday itself.

Small Business Saturday encourages people up and down the country to go out and support small businesses in their communities on that day and all year round.

Last year an estimated £623m was spent with small businesses across the UK on the day – up £119m on the previous year and an increase in spending of 24 per cent.

“Small Business Saturday is not just a campaign to raise awareness of our diverse and innovative small business sector, but also a vehicle from which small businesses who embrace make use of the campaign can derive tangible benefit,” said Small Business Saturday national campaign director, Michelle Ovens.

“The bus tour is a very visible way for us to meet small businesses around the UK and show them how they can become involved as well as drumming up consumer interest, support and enthusiasm.”

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