If you’re like me, you see the tremendous value of small businesses. They make our high streets interesting and varied. They usually have better morals! You can find out all about their ethos on their website and find people whose views align with your own. Small businesses boost their local economy and actually pay their taxes, unlike some larger companies. I love buying from a business with character, knowing I’ve got the only one of its kind.

The trouble is that buying from small businesses can be expensive. Not because the work is overpriced- and there is a huge distinction between expensive and overpriced, of course. Overpriced means we’re being ripped off. Expensive means that things can be outside our budget, even though they’re absolutely worth the price tag. And small businesses are much more likely to price their work fairly and properly, unlike big business. But supporting small business doesn’t have to actually cost anything. Do I do a happy dance every time I sell one of my sculptures? Absolutely I do. I’m thrilled some lovely human likes my work and I’m grateful to continue doing this job I love. But there are plenty of ways to support other than buying something.

Here are a few:

Sharing in person and on social media. Talk about us. Tell your pals. Share a post on your Instagram stories. (following, liking and commenting is also fabulous, but sharing is massively helpful because Instagram is paying attention. If it thinks people like us, it will show our posts to more people, helping us expand our reach to new customers).

Sign up to newsletters. The nice thing about small businesses is that their emails are not spammy. There are nice pictures, nice stories to read about. Sometimes there are competitions or charity raffles, second sales, or secret events, where you could find yourself owning something you could never usually afford for a much smaller price. It’s like being part of a secret club. If your favourite artist is exhibiting near you, you’ll be the first to hear about it. And, if you’ll forgive a shameless plug for a moment; you can sign up to my email list right here.

Write a review. If you’ve visited an open studio or event, write about it on Trip Advisor or Google Business, or tag them on a social media post. If you’ve made a purchase online, fill out a review for their online shop. Customers only buy from people who can be trusted, who have good customer service. If you think a small business has done a good job at something, say so.

Send an email or say hello face to face at a show/open studio event. Small businesses are often just one person, or a very small team. A friendly word or compliment is so nice and can really lift you up. And if that artist has been plodding along, working hard all day, perhaps doubting whether their new design is working, it is delightful to have a little note in our inbox to say you like something we’ve made. If you’ve made a purchase, send a photo of it on your wall or your table. I have some awesome repeat customers who do this and they make my day.

Support small business campaigns. Just A Card, Small Business Saturday, Handmade Hour, and Colour Friday (Holly Tucker’s small business answer to the rather soulless Black Friday) are just a few things that have events every year, where we are encouraged to spread the word about small business, talk about our favourite independent shops, and visit that new pop-up in our area. It’s a great time to get involved with your local community. Each of these things also have online events too. And there are events like Super Seconds Festival where you can find discounts from Indie makers. The Crafts Council Directory and Find A Maker are online catalogues of designer makers, where you can peruse to your hearts content and find yourself a new favourite artist.

And lastly, when you can spend money:

When you can afford to buy from small business, don’t forget about us. If you want your streets to have unique places to visit, and your house to have something other than generic items adorning it, we need your support. I can guarantee you that your sale means more to us than it does to big business, and you’ll be able to tell in our designs and our customer service. Because spending your money with us should be as joyful an experience for you as it is to the small business owner who has worked their socks off to earn their income.

It is important to remember that purchases don’t have to be large. The Just A Card campaign is based on the premise that if everybody who visited a lovely local gallery bought just a card, that gallery would be prosperous and a vibrant stalwart of our high street for years, rather than close, as often happens to small enterprises. Small sales add up and they’re often the foundation that small businesses rely on. So never be embarrassed to not afford the fancy stuff and only purchase just a card/pin badge/bookmark etc. We always value your patronage, large or small.