It was Small Business Saturday last week in the U.S.A, and today (Saturday 6th December) is Small Business Saturday in the U.K.
The intention is to raise the profile of local independent stores, who are far more likely to have local suppliers, and benefit the local economy generally.
So a good chance to try out or two new ones today. Be brave and look in a new door.
Abingdon should soon be receiving a national award if the Vale of White Horse survey of local footfall is accurate.
It says that footfall in Abingdon is up a dramatic 44% from 2013 to 2014 (surveys were done during September and October). That is better than Wantage, who recently received an award for their improved town centre. Wantage footfall was up 30%. Faringdon was up 8%. So all Vale towns are doing well against the national average which saw a 0.6% decrease in High Street footfall over the same period.
The Vale report suggests that the dramatic 44% increase in Abingdon footfall could be explained by: the draw of local events and markets, high rates of retailer occupation, the town centre refurbishment, and free parking. Even though none of these factors changed between 2013 and 2014. So the dramatic increase is a mystery.
I too am a bit bemused by the size of the apparent increase, but there might be other contributory factors as well as the number of shops: the weather is one – it has been a pretty good year and there are always more people in town.
But more positively, we have had several really attractive events in town this year: Cycling Festival, Yeah Baby, Heritage Weekend, Local Excellence Markets and other Market Place events; we also have more pleasant places for people to go for a drink or coffee. We have even had
(some) positive reporting in the local press. Maybe, just maybe, more people are recognising that Abingdon Town Centre and riverside are quite nice places to be!
Another consideration is the starting point for the statistics.
For argument’s sake, let’s imagine that Abingdon’s footfall has risen from 1000 to 1440 – an increase of 440 and hence of 44%. By comparison, if Wantage started with 1500, their 30% increase would mean that their rise would be to 1950 – and numerical increase of 450.
Statistics (especially percentages) can be very misleading.
All that said, what is good news is that Abingdon has experienced a big growth in footfall. Let’s hope we can keep it without losing our town’s attractions and without increasing the traffic congestion!
Another thought is that the baseline might have been pretty low because Bury Street was under reconstruction most of 2013! But I prefer my first theory – and in reality they may both be true.
On Small Business Saturday, Abingdon a town full of small businesses was very disappointing today. Nothing happening on the Market Square (apart from a truly awful band attempting to play carols); nothing special in the shops and, when I went in just after lunch, hardly anyone in town. The only shop that had a queue was Costa, which is hardly a small business is it.
I do my best to support Abingdon, but its getting harder as time passes.
Never mind, Manonthefence, there’s another event on its way next weekend, and Abingdon will be buzzing once more.
Manonthefence – when I went shopping mid afternoon, most of the shops I visited had more people in than usual – everyone must have been at lunch when you were shopping!