It’s good brews for traders as shoppers flock
AN independent Burton beer shop celebrated its second best day of the year on Small Business Saturday, it has been revealed.
Brews of the World, in Station Street, which specialises in beers from all over the world, including America, New Zealand, Japan, Belgium and Germany, as well as Britain, said it had double the usual amount of customers through the door on the Saturday.
The good news comes just weeks after the store was targeted by thieves who smashed their way in through two doors at the back of the store and took £250 from the till. The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday, November 11. The store went on to improve security and does not keep money on the premises.
Small Business Saturday is held nationwide on the first Saturday in December each year and aims to encourage consumers to shop locally and with independent traders.
In Burton, as well as the town’s smaller traders backing the cause, a rally event was held in the Market Place. It also included local traders showcasing their wares.
Brews of the World opened in Station Street a year ago, but has already shown there is a market for a speciality beer supplier in the town.
Co-owner Chris McCormack told the Burton Mail: “We had the second best day of the year on Saturday. The best day was the Saturday before Father’s Day.
“We had about 50 customers, which is about double. It was great.
“My advice to customers is to be adventurous and see what amazing shops there are in Burton.
“We sell all sorts of different beers – ones that you cannot get in supermarkets.”
As part of Small Business Saturday, East Staffordshire Mayor and Mayoress Councillor Chris Smith and his wife Jane were on hand to lend their support to the campaign as they met traders.
Nik Hardy, founder and managing director of Burton firm Hardy Signs and president of Burton Chamber of Commerce, gave a speech on the Market Place thanking organisers and sponsors for their help. He told the Burton Mail: “It was a good day. It is raising awareness of the vitally important part local businesses play in the economy.
“Local businesses are where everything starts. They grow from small to medium and to large.
“Hardy Signs started off as a small business 25 years ago as a one-man band and now we are trading nationwide and across Europe but our roots are in Burton.
“On the day there were plenty of local stores. It was quite a buzz of small local businesses showing their local displays and wares and it was a good turnout.
“There was general interest from shoppers in what was happening. I said a few words to the crowd and thanked the organisers Elaine Pritchard and Tilley Bancroft and our sponsors which was Chameleon School of Construction. We also had representatives from East Staffordshire Borough Council and the Mayor and Mayoress.
“It was an all round good day. “There are small business grants available from the Burton Chamber of Commerce.”
Sue Dorling, founder of The Alphabet Gift Shop, in Union Street, Burton, said the shop had a “mega busy weekend” but did not know if it could be attributed to Small Business Saturday.
She said: “We had a really good weekend.
“Our message is that we are here to help and advise. We have edited down a collection to what we think people want for best value and it is all about talking to people and having a natter in a friendly atmosphere.”
A campaign bus is being used in a bid to support and promote the UK’s 5.7 million small businesses and is currently touring the country. The bus visited Burton last month parking in Market Place where traders and customers were out in force.
The event also provided help and advice for small business owners on a range of issues.