BAFTA winning filmmaker Heidi Greensmith is encouraging the public to shop
small on SmallBusiness Saturday, 6 December 2014.
American Express , founder of Small Business Saturday in the U.S. and
active supporter of the grassroots campaign in the UK, has commissioned
the trio to use their distinctive talents to shine the spotlight on the
nation’s small businesses.
Award winning filmmaker Heidi Greensmith has turned her camera onto three
independent shops including Cardiff fishmonger Fish at 85 to give small
businesses a share of the limelight in the lead up to the Christmas
shopping rush.
Greensmith’s film, called SATURDAY
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb5xdjJtpf4&feature=youtu.be>, is released
today and shows a day-in-the-life of three small, independent shops
capturing the passion and commitment of the small business owners. The
film opens with Cardiff fishmonger Nick Bryant, 36, giving an insight into
his traceability ethos as he prepares to take in the catch of local
fishermen at 3 o’clock in the morning. The film also features clothes
shop FOUND in Bath and London bookshop The Society Club.
Heidi Greensmith comments: “Small businesses are an essential
part of the
local community, not only providing a personally selected offering for
their customers, but also as a place where local people can simply meet
up, catch up and feel looked after. In SATURDAY I set out to capture and
celebrate the unique role small businesses play in our lives and hope the
film inspires the public to shop small on Small Business Saturday.”
American Express research undertaken immediately after last year¹s
campaign found that 43 per cent of shoppers on the day chose specifically
to shop at local independently owned businesses because of Small Business
Saturday. Those consumers spent an average of ￡33 per person on the day,
generating ￡468 million for small businesses across the UK.
Rafa Marquez, UK Managing Director, American Express said: “American
Express has a long history of working with small businesses and we
recognise the vital contribution they make to the UK economy. We are
therefore delighted to be collaborating with such passionate advocates
from the world of film, art and fashion to shine a spotlight on these
often unsung heroes of our high street. Heidi’s film perfectly captures
the passion of independent businesses and the very special place they
command in our communities. Our hope is that with this film and the
support of Sir Peter Blake and Daisy Lowe, we will inspire even more
people to shop small this Small Business Saturday”.
SATURDAY the film can be watched at amexshopsmall.co.uk. Sir Peter Blake’s
new artwork will be unveiled later this month and Lowe will be supporting
a small, independent shop on Small Business Saturday on 6 December.
