Small Business Saturday comes to Horsham

As the UK celebrates Small Business Saturday the town centre will be alive with new independent business activity and plenty of ideas for Christmas shopping.

The Young Enterprise Christmas Fair is being held in the Carfax with 12 students from schools across the district, including Millais, Farlington and Tanbridge House, selling their own products as part of the national Young Enterprise Company Programme initiative.

Year 10 pupils from across the town will also be taking part in the fair, supported by Horsham District Council and Horsham Rotary, which will run from 9am until 4pm.

The Horsham Markets Carfax Local Produce and Crafts Market will also be running alongside the fair providing shoppers with opportunities to acquire some original Christmas gifts whilst supporting local entrepreneurs.

Also on Saturday Pop Up Horsham will be celebrating its fifth month in operation but hosting a Christmas shop outside Swan Walk shopping centre.

Christmas gift ideas such as children’s clothes, baby gifts, photography vouchers and prints, natural cosmetics and skincare, gluten free pet food and many more will be on sale. There will also be a chance to meet the entrepreneurs behind the products.

Youngsters will also be able to meet the Muffin Man in Swan Walk as new cafe Muffin Break celebrates its opening.

Small Business Saturday is an annual national campaign which celebrates independent retailers and small businesses and aims to support, inspire and promote small independently owned businesses throughout the UK.

Cabinet Member for the Local Economy, Gordon Lindsay, will be visiting small businesses in Horsham on Saturday with Horsham Jeremy Quin MP.

Mr Lindsay said:“I am delighted that the Pop Up Horsham initiative is working very much as we had envisaged.

“The positive news and results from a number of the businesses that have already traded in the outlet are very exciting. I understand that with Gobsmack Comics taking their own unit in the town and Zuma getting a major international licensing agreement, both have credited their time in Pop Up Horsham as having been significant to their success.

“I wish them and all the Pop Up Horsham businesses much continued success.”

This Christmas, Horsham shoppers will be greeted by a selection of independent businesses many of which have opened in the last few weeks.

Gill Buchanan, chairman of Horsham Unlimited, said: “Horsham town centre is renowned for its blend of big national, niche and independent brands. “With the additional Christmas activities happening in the town centre this weekend it is the perfect time to highlight and celebrate our diverse range of smaller businesses.”

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