// 47% of Brits said they will shop with small businesses this month to support local jobs
// 78% of Brits have said they admire how local businesses have navigated Covid-19
// 7 in 10 said they appreciate local businesses more now than ever before
New research has found that Brits plan to spend £6.2 billion shopping with independent businesses this December.
Seven in 10 Brits have said they will visit local shops and businesses this month, with an average spend of £169, according to research commissioned by American Express, supporter of Small Business Saturday UK.
At least 47 per cent of those shopping with small businesses have said they will do so because they want to support local jobs.
READ MORE: Small & indie retailers hope to capitalise on lockdown end with Small Business Saturday
Another 78 per cent of Brits have said they admire how local businesses have navigated Covid-19 and want to continue supporting local businesses for the long term.
Over four in five consider local shop workers to be frontline, while seven in 10 said they appreciate local businesses more now than ever before.
Four in ten said the amount of their budget spent at local businesses has increased since March.
Of these, almost four in five intend to either maintain this spend or increase it in 2021.
“2020 has been hard for everyone but the resilience and creativity of small businesses in the face of the most trying of circumstances continues to be nothing short of incredible,” American Express general manager UK of global merchant and network services, Dan Edelman said.
“It’s great to see that Brits recognise the important contribution local small businesses make and want to show their support, rewarding them with a much-needed boost to spending before the end of the year.
“As principal supporter of Small Business Saturday on December 5, we hope that people will continue to show their support for their local independents by shopping small, not just this December but all year round.”
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