A multi award-winning greetings card and gift shop in Port Erin has been named among the 100 small businesses in the UK to be celebrated by Small Business Saturday, the UK’s dedicated day for small businesses on December 5th.

Mantons Cards, which was named British Independent Retailer of the Year earlier this year, will be among those featured one per day for the 100 days leading up to Small Business Saturday itself. Last year’s ‘Small Biz 100’ also attended a Christmas Fair staged specially in Downing Street and attended by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne.

Co-owner Chris Beards says:

“Most of the cards and gifts we stock are exclusive to Mantons on the Isle of Man, making us a unique destination store on the Island. We are proud of our relationship with our suppliers and the trust they show in us by offering exclusivity for the whole Island. Being part of the Small Biz 100 is the ultimate reward and motivation to the Mantons’ team, all of whom have contributed, and continue to contribute, to our success.”

Small Business Saturday is already the UK's most successful small business campaign. Last year 16.5 million adults went out to support a small business on Small Business Saturday with 64% of the UK aware of the campaign. The UK’s small businesses between them provide 60% of private sector jobs and nearly 50% of private sector turnover. Last year the campaign was featured by all major media, trended at number one on Twitter on the day and received around 3.5 million views on its Facebook page. This year Small Business Saturday carries the theme "5 million small businesses, 1 big day".

The campaign exists as a nationwide promotional and marketing tool for small businesses, something for business owners to join up with and use for the benefit of their own small business. It is totally free to participate and all and any small businesses can get involved, from one-man-bands, through to a high growth office, and from tradesmen to social media gurus. In addition to the campaign itself, the team also delivers help and advice alongside opportunities to connect with other small businesses. In short, Small Business Saturday exists to support, inspire and promote small businesses.

“The first Small Business Saturday last year was an exceptional example of collaboration and co-operation with small businesses teaming up in communities around the UK,” explained National Campaign Director Michelle Ovens.

“Although the campaign focuses on one day, the goal is to have a lasting impact on small businesses by changing mind-sets, so that people make it their mission to support small businesses all year round. Most people in this country own a small business, work for a small business or know somebody who does, so supporting a small business on Small Business Saturday is absolutely personal.”

American Express originally founded the hugely successful ‘Small Business Saturday’ initiative in the U.S. in 2010 and remains the Founding Supporter of the campaign in the UK, as part of its on-going commitment to encourage consumers to shop small. The campaign also benefits from the backing of leading business organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses, which has a programme of supportive events planned across the country, the Association of City and Town Management, The Association of Convenience Stores, The National Federation of Retail Newsagents, the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, and other corporate organisations including Talk Talk Business and Vista Print.

Logos, digital banners, a social media guide and toolkits will be available to download from the website www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com and can be displayed online or on premises. Businesses around the country will also be able to upload information to the ‘My Small Business Finder’ on the website (www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com) on what special events or promotional offers they will be running for Small Business Saturday.

More information on Small Business Saturday can also be found on the Small Business Saturday Facebook page (www.facebook.com/smallbusinesssaturdayuk) and Twitter feed (@SmallBizSatUk).