According to The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), pressure on small businesses throughout 2020 means they desperately need a boost from their local communities in the run-up to Christmas.

The FSB’s ‘Love Your Small Independent Business’ campaign is asking local people to not only actively support their local independent businesses but also to share images of their actual buys by using the hashtag #shopherethisChristmas.

People can also support their favourite businesses by placing reviews of their online.

Nicola Bailey, FSB development manager for Dorset said we all have a part to play to ensure our independent retail businesses have a fighting chance of rescuing their curtailed Christmas sales so they can continue to be part of the local community in 2021. She said, ‘’This has been an unbelievably testing time for our  brilliant small, independent retail businesses.

“Many have worked tirelessly to try and stay open and provide invaluable support and service to the community in a safe and secure way, and we know being part of a vibrant community with independent businesses is important to local people. We therefore hope they support this campaign and reward the loyalty their local independents have shown to communities. They are the very heartbeat of local life.”

She added, “Many of our local business have innovated over the last few months by launching online with ‘click and collect’ services so they need help too – don’t forget if it is on your Christmas list think small retailers who can provide it with a personal service!”

Retailers are invited to take part too, by posting images of themselves and their shops online using the hashtag #shopherethisChristmas