Issue #46 - Save Our Small Businesses 🆘
How to support small businesses | What businesses will need most help this winter? | Small Business Saturday | 5 businesses, 1 question | Tunes | Words | More
🦾 G O
Remember to shop local this winter ❄
Welcome to Issue #46 of The Backbone - the fortnightly newsletter from Bionic.
Small business owners need to stick together, especially when times are tough. And the ongoing cost of living crisis will make sure this winter will be a tough one for loads of small businesses across the country.
The number-crunchers at Bionic have worked out what businesses are most likely to be in need of help this winter, and it’s a pretty broad mix that includes cafes, pubs, restaurants, and salons.
That’s why we all need to spread the ‘shop local’ message this winter. And, as a business owner, you’re in a great position to do this in a number of ways:
On those rare occasions when you’re not running your business and are instead out shopping for yourself, swerve the supermarkets and use your local high street shops.
Always promote other small businesses in your area when talking to customers.
Instead of getting stock from the cash-and-carry, make use of the shops in your local area. Although this might be a bit more expensive, customers will usually be happy to pay a bit more for quality, locally-sourced produce.
If you’re part of a vibrant high street, you could all take part in a loyalty scheme for customers who shop locally.
To illustrate just how tough things could be for small businesses this winter, we’ve compared how predicted revenue drops would affect the products customers buy if those losses were passed on by business owners.
Can you imagine the look you’d get if you served a pint with 13% less beer in it or a cup with 9% less coffee in it?
That will be the reality for the revenue for many small businesses this winter. And that’s why we all need to do our bit and shop locally.
Want to know how last week’s Autumn Statement will affect your business? We picked out the key points in this special edition of The Backbone.
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🗞 R E A D
The small business industries at greatest risk this winter
It’s been a tough few years for business owners. Two years of uncertainty during the pandemic have been followed by a huge rise in the cost of living, soaring inflation, and high energy prices. This winter looks set to be another tough one, but some small businesses will suffer more than others. Although times could be tough for everyone this festive season, here are the sectors we should really be looking to help out this winter.
How to support SMEs this Small Business Saturday
Saturday, December 3 is Small Business Saturday - a weekend to spread the word about SMEs and drive footfall to independent shops. Here’s how you can get involved this year along with five simple steps to help both business owners and customers shout loud and proud about shopping locally.
🗣 S H O U T O U T
#BionicBusinessStory - 5 businesses, 1 question 🤔
We love hearing all about how small business owners got to where they are. The stories of how they’ve built their business, the things that keep them awake at night, their biggest achievements, and how they cope when life feels like it’s going at 60 miles an hour. We asked five business owners one simple question, and here’s how they answered…
Bionic - How do you attract new customers?
🏰 “By using social media to our advantage. The campaign for our Halloween event was digital and social media-heavy but we also used advertising on buses. We added Snapchat and TikTok advertising campaigns to the mix to reach a younger local audience too.” Jess Cutts - Hever Castle
☕ “Offering variety. We have festive specials throughout December, Christmas brownies and different cheeses. Our popular cake choice is the 'Brack Tea Loaf' which our chef decorates with Christmas icing designs during the festive period.” Jo Hunter - That Tea Room
👗 “Although people loved the vintage clothes we were selling at the start, they’d come in to look but there weren’t many people buying them. So, we introduced brand new stock and went from there.” Lucy Bradbury - Divine Trash Clothing
🍫 “By sticking to what we do and doing it consistently well.” Flo Broughton - Choc on Choc
👻 “By giving customers variety. It’s about finding new ways of doing things to engage them at new locations.” Jonathon Fost - Dark Encounters
Want to read more small business stories? Head over to Bionic 🦾
📩 J O I N
Get involved with our business community 🔊
Share your thoughts and tips to give other busy business owners a helping hand. Or ask a question to see if anyone can help you out.
Get your business costs sorted 💷
Bionic - the business price comparison experts - compare a range of business essentials to help you save time, money, and hassle.
Our tech-enabled team will answer all your questions in simple terms, and help you find the best deal on business energy, insurance, phone, broadband, or finance. No jargon. No-fuss. #BeABionicBusiness 🦾
We love nothing more than being able to genuinely help business owners 🥰
Check out more ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trustpilot reviews
🎧 L I S T E N
Playlist
Even if you’ve no idea who Trevor Horn is, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with his work - particularly if you were a child of the 80s, like Glyn, who chose this week’s playlist. And if you’ve never heard tracks like Owner of a Lonely Heart, Two Tribes, Moments in Love, It’s Alright, Step Into My Office Baby, Crazy, Can’t Fight the Moonlight, or The Look of Love (part 1)* then now is the time to put that right.
*If you want to hear The Look of Love parts 2, 3 & 4- check out this YouTube video
Podcast
This week’s Podcast has been chosen by Richard from Commercial Operations, and it’s a fascinating production from HBO - makers of every brilliant TV show, ever - including Chernobyl, which this podcast is about. Series creator, writer, and executive producer Craig Mazin takes a look at each episode to discuss the true stories that shaped the scenes, themes, and characters.
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🚫 S T O P
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