Suffolk Market Events named in Small Business Saturday UK’s ‘Small Biz 100’ for 2016

Suffolk Market Events, based in Little Cornard, near Sudbury, that runs and organise award winning farmers' markets, food workshops and street markets, has been named among the 100 small businesses in the UK to be celebrated by Small Business Saturday, the campaign that culminates in the UK’s dedicated day for small businesses on December 3rd.

All of the markets run by Justine Paul of Suffolk Market Events have been rescued from the brink of closure and successfully turned around into thriving events. From an office in her garden Justine now organises over sixty markets each year. She was named 2015 Suffolk Food & Drink Hero and her Lavenham Farmers' Market is the current titleholder of the BBC Radio 4 Best Food Market in Suffolk. Now, her business will be among those featured one per day for the 100 days leading up to Small Business Saturday itself.

Justine says: “I believe that when small businesses collaborate we become stronger and through partnerships we can all shout together. In rural areas, where employment opportunities are less, my markets give small scale producers a low cost platform from which their business can grow, pitch fees are kept low and I watch many start-up businesses develop, as a result of the markets, from tiny enterprises into much bigger businesses. My markets have truly reconnected local people with locally produced food. I’m delighted that the continuing success, development and evolution of my business, and all that it encompasses, has resulted in its inclusion in this year’s Small Biz 100.”

Small Business Saturday is already the UK's most successful small business campaign. This is the fourth year of the campaign, which last year saw £623m spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday, an increase of £119m or 24 per cent on the previous year. The campaign trended at number one in the UK on Twitter on the day with more than 100,000 campaign-related tweets being sent. Over 75% of local councils supported the campaign, giving considerable national reach into local communities.

The campaign is a great nationwide promotional and marketing tool for small businesses. It is totally free to participate and any small businesses can get involved - from one-man-bands, through to a high growth office, and from tradesmen to social media gurus. In addition to the big day, the campaign also delivers help and advice alongside opportunities to connect with other small businesses. In short, Small Business Saturday exists to support, inspire and promote small businesses. 

“The British public has a great affection for small businesses and we continue to see that grow year on year.  Small Business Saturday is an exceptional example of collaboration and co-operation with small businesses teaming up in communities around the UK,” explains Campaign Director Michelle Ovens.

“Although the campaign focuses on one day, the goal is to have a lasting impact on small businesses by changing mind-sets, so that people make it their mission to support small businesses all year round. Most people in this country own a small business, work for a small business or know somebody who does, so supporting a small business on Small Business Saturday is absolutely personal.”