A movement backed by several small business groups has renewed a campaign to encourage shoppers to lift their support for local retailers.
A movement backed by several small business groups has renewed a campaign to encourage shoppers to lift their support for local retailers.
Small Business Matters has marked October 29 (a Saturday) on the calendar as Small Business Day this year, and has called on shoppers to commit to shop at, and support, their local small businesses.
The initiative is backed by a number of industry bodies including the Small Business Development Corporation, Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, Motor Trade Association of WA, Housing Institute Association WA, Family Business Association of WA, and all 42 Regional Chambers of Commerce & Industries WA.
A date for Small Business Day was set following the release of new data today about the state of small business in Western Australia from Bankwest, which warned that not enough was being done to drive small business entrepreneurship.
“Some 97 per cent of all privately owned businesses in WA are small businesses and they make up around 43 per cent of all goods exported,” Small Business Matters co-founder Nicolle Jenkins said.
“Small businesses constantly fly under the radar, because we are spread across WA, operate across all industries and are out there getting the job done.
“Due to this diversity, we often don’t have a united voice.
“Small Business Day is a great way to let people know the importance their local small business plays in the WA economy.”
Regional CCI WA chief executive (and Small Business Matters co-founder) Kitty Prodonovich said the community had a responsibility to support small businesses in their region.
“We sometimes take our small businesses for granted, which is why we need to give them a voice and recognise and support them,” she said.
“If every adult in WA spent an extra $10 a week in a local small business, it would add an extra $1 billion to our economy and would create thousands of extra local jobs.
“It’s timely to celebrate the small business owners that take risks, invest in our community, create jobs and are the lifeblood of our economy in WA.”
Small Business Day was held in WA for the first time last year, in July.
