UK's top 'Small Biz 100' unveiled by Small Business Saturday
An inclusive fashion brand from Manchester has been selected as one of 100 trail-blazing small businesses in the official count-down to Small Business Saturday, which takes place across the UK on 7 December 2019.
Kintsugi Clothing is one of this year’s ‘Small Biz 100’, a selection of small businesses drawn from every corner of the UK that reflect the vibrancy of the UK’s 5.6 million small businesses. In the 100 days running up to Small Business Saturday, the campaign will spotlight each of the Small Biz 100, as part of its mission to celebrate small business success and encourage the nation to 'shop local' and support British small businesses.
This year’s Small Biz 100 features a range of unique independent businesses each contributing to their communities and offering something different, including Kintsugi, founded in 2018 by Emma McClelland. Kintsugi designs on-trend womenswear, using suggestions from across the disabled community to ensure each piece is accessible and multi-functional.
Kintsugi joins hundreds of previous Small Biz 100 businesses, which have been announced by the iconic campaign since its UK launch in 2013.
Kintsugi will be placed in the spotlight on 4th December, where it will be celebrating by offering 25% off across its collection, plus free UK shipping.
Founder of Kintsugi, Emma McClelland said:
“I was delighted to be chosen as one of the Small Biz 100, along with 99 other, incredible companies. It’s a big boost not only to Kintsugi, but also to the universal design movement, which we hope to see other businesses embracing. Making sure products and services are deisgned to be accessible to all is hugely important.”
Director of Small Business Saturday, Michelle Ovens MBE said:
“Each year this campaign has grown in support from government, business and communities alike, and so we can’t wait to begin the annual 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday with the launch of the Small Biz 100 2019.
“Small Business Saturday’s increasing popularity means it was harder than ever to choose just 100 of this country’s incredible 5.6 million small businesses to showcase, but we believe those we have chosen are true representatives of the diverse, creative and inspiring heroes at the heart of our communities.”
In its seventh year, Small Business Saturday is the UK's most successful small business campaign, which last year saw an estimated £812 million spent in small businesses across the UK on the day, according to research commissioned by founder and principal supporter American Express.
This was up from the £748 million spent on Small Business Saturday in 2017, with 59% of people aware of the day saying they spent more than usual.
The #SmallBizSatUK campaign trended in the UK top 5 on Twitter on the day, reaching over 100 million people globally.
The Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Mayor of London were among those publicly supporting the campaign, alongside more than 90% of local councils.
Small Business Saturday also benefits from the backing of leading business organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses, Indeed and Dell. The campaign is also supported by Amazon, printed.com, Square and Xero.
Small Business Saturday 2019 is open to all businesses to participate in and will commence its regional bus tour roadshow across the UK during the autumn, to drum up further support.
The full list of businesses chosen for the Small Biz 100 can be found in notes below.
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Notes to Editors
Media Contacts
Seven Hills (on behalf of Small Business Saturday) smallbusinesssaturday@wearesevenhills.com
About Small Business Saturday
A grassroots, not-for-profit campaign, Small Business Saturday was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010. American Express remains the principal supporter of the campaign in the UK, as part of its on-going commitment to encourage consumers to shop small.
The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.