SHOPPERS in Wimborne are being encouraged to think closer to home when it comes to Christmas shopping this year rather than turning to big online retailers.

Stats from TotallyLocally.org reveal that if every adult in the UK spent just £5 a week in local shops and businesses instead of online, in supermarkets or with big multinationals, it would be worth £13.5 billion going back directly into towns across the UK.

This Saturday (December 7) marks the national campaign Small Business Saturday, and Wimborne Business Improvement District (BID) is encouraging shoppers to think local when it comes to Christmas shopping.

Wimborne BID chair Fiona Harwood said: “Small, independent businesses are hugely important not only to the economy but also to the individuality of a town.

“Small Business Saturday is a great way for us all to celebrate and support the unique flavour they bring to Wimborne.”

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A Christmas street party has been organised to celebrate Small Business Saturday which will see Church Street closed so people can enjoy live music, beer and great food as the Oddfellows, Wimborne’s smallest pub, Ten Bottles wine bar and Levantine restaurant promise lots of Christmas joviality and hospitality.

At the other end of Wimborne, East Street will be closed to traffic for a festive ‘block party’.

Visitors can make the most of food and shopping from the many independent small businesses in that area of town as well as the vibrant atmosphere of music and outside seating for food and drink

“Wimborne is thriving and long may it continue,” said Simon Warren, co-owner of multi award-winning, independent business East Street Deli.

He added: “We often hear that the high street is dead but due to the support of the Wimborne community and hard work from the local businesses, many of them made up of very small teams, this town is thriving.”

Coordinated by Wimborne BID, people are also being asked to give their local businesses a shout-out on socials, tagging in #SmallBizSatUK.

They can also share the Wimborne Bid Small Business Advent Calendar on Facebook and Instagram which features a Wimborne business behind the door every day throughout December.

Mr Warren added: “This great town of ours is so lucky to have so many great, small, independent and passionately run businesses.

“Small Business Saturday is a great opportunity for everyone to celebrate this by supporting these brilliant shops and services.”

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