Support Small Business Day, held in Victoria this year on October 4, is a welcome addition to other recent SME event campaigns the American Express-led ‘Shop Small’ and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Small Business ‘Too Big to Ignore’.
Victoria’s second Support Small Business Day attracted 3,387 small business and 2,523 shopper registrations as participants – an increase of a third compared to its inaugural year – along with 9,176 Facebook likes.
Small businesses were provided with packs including promotional materials and shoppers could find their local participating store through a search tool on the website. Thousands of gift vouchers were provided by Bendigo Bank and competitions further incentivised participation.
The Minister for Small Business, Russell Northe, encouraged Victorians to explore and shop at their local small businesses on the second Support Small Business Day and celebrate the big contribution small businesses make to the economy and to local communities.
“Whenever Victorians purchase from a small retail business, this helps to drive product diversity and innovation, create jobs in local communities and build stronger neighbourhoods,” Mr Northe said.
“In fact research has shown that when $100 is spent in a local small business, $50 is retained in the local economy.
“There are 77,000 more jobs in small businesses across Victoria than there were in 2010. That’s because we are building a more productive Victoria by providing opportunities for small businesses to grow, reducing red tape and creating local jobs.”
For the past 12 years Victoria has also run an annual month-long ‘Small Business Big Marketing’ event with seminars, a marketing services exhibition and free mentoring and networking opportunities.