Aussies’ commitment to SME retailers potentially worth $1bn at Christmas

Australians could deliver an estimated $1.12 billion to the small-business sector for this Christmas season by buying just one more gift from their local business, according to Intuit Quickbooks.

The accounting software company have issued a rallying call to consumers in the wake of a study they conducted – the Season of Small Research – which reveals that Aussies say they expect to cut back on their Christmas shopping this year, by buying one less gift, in light of the current economic hardships brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There has been a significant amount of financial turmoil for small businesses this year,” Intuit Australia’s Head of Customer Experience, Gabrielle Dracopoulos, said. “The great news is that just by buying one extra gift from a small business this Christmas, you could make a huge difference to the people that give so much to the community, be it a neighbour, a friend or a family member. Small businesses really are the lifeblood of the community and without our support we could be looking at a very different small business landscape in the new year.”

According to the research, 51 per cent of those who shop with small businesses say they do so because they are able to give back to the community, 43 per cent say they find more niche products, and 40 per cent see it as a more intimate experience.

In addition, 28 per cent of Aussies say supporting small business is like “eating a family home-cooked meal,” while a quarter (24 per cent) say it gives them the same feeling as “wrapping their hands around the perfect hot drink.” Aussies who prefer to shop with larger businesses say they do so because there are “more products to choose from” (62 per cent) and they get better deals and discounts (60 per cent).

Small-business owner Annemarie Dove from Byron Bay Candles is among the struggling small-business owners who backed Intuit Australia’s call for Aussies to bring their Christmas shopping lists to their favourite local business.

“We’re always reliant on the Christmas season to boost our cashflow but this year the situation is more critical than ever,” Dove said. “If more Australians could buy just one more gift each with a small business this Christmas it could make all the difference for those of us who need a little extra boost.”

This story originally appeared on sister site Inside Small Business.

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