Here at acceptcards® we provide card payment support to thousands of businesses across the UK and have been since 2005. We all know that 2020 has been hard on the economy, and especially for our smaller independent traders across our communities.

We are passionate about making sure our local gems not only survive the current recession but are in a place to thrive. Traditionally this is the time of the year when lots of our beloved local businesses maximise their sales making profits that support them during the quieter times of the year. Our local communities need us more than ever to shop like they depend on it, because you know what, they just might do if we want to see them still with us in 2021.

Here are our 5 reasons to shop local this Christmas.

  1. The high street is for life not just for Christmas

When you invest money in your local economy, you are not just helping local business owners – you are also helping yourself. You are making your town a better place to live in, with a rich character, thriving economy, and a tightly knit community. The more local businesses prosper, more new ones will open, making it even easier to continue shopping locally in the future.

  1. Small Business Saturday

Now in its 8th year in the UK, the campaign has grown significantly each year with an estimated £800m spent in small businesses across the UK on 2019’s Small Business Saturday, with a record turnout of 17.6 million people choosing to shop small on the day, be sure to keep an eye on social media to see what deals will be happening in your town.

  1. Keep it “Totally Locally”

Another High Street Hero initiative that was thought up in our home community of Calderdale a decade ago is “Totally Locally”. The simple message is if every adult in a community spent £5 per week in their town it would be worth millions to the local economy. Now imagine if you were to do as much of your Christmas Shopping this way that would supercharge this figure!

  1. Stay safe go Online

Online is a safe option, but not if your favourite high street shop isn’t online. So what do you do? Well let’s be honest you will just find somewhere else, say nothing and no one will realise until it’s too late, but it doesn’t need to be this way. There are many simple ways to have an online presence and we can help find the right one for your beloved place, just send them this link and we will help with the rest.

  1. Comfort Food

Your local restaurant, café or pub may be closed for you to call in for lunch, tea or that drink as you would do if you were shopping on the high street but it doesn’t mean they are closed for take-out. It may take a bit of planning but look on social media and see if you can get those fish and chips, moussaka or that bottle of wine delivered so you can still shop and treat yourself.

Finally say thank you, be kind and shout about your hidden high street heroes on social media by leaving a review, this way more people will get to know your secret. This act of kindness won’t cost you a penny, but you’ll be spreading joy and giving shop owners some Christmas cheers and it will make you feel great.