Giddy Goat Toys based in Didsbury, which is owned by TnP columnist Amanda Alexander, has been chosen as one of 100 small businesses from across the UK to mark the official countdown to this year’s Small Business Saturday UK.

The campaign celebrates small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’. This year it is calling on the nation to share a ‘big thank you’ with small firms to recognise their vital role throughout the pandemic.

Giddy Goat Toys is an independent children’s toy shop which has just celebrated its ninth birthday. The specialist retailer survived the various lockdowns by upgrading its website and selling online as well as offering click-and-collect but was glad to reopen its doors to customers earlier this year.

“In my shop we pride ourselves on our friendly and personal customer service and in being part of a vibrant and thriving local high street”

Amanda Alexander

Amanda Alexander said: “I was so pleased to be chosen to be part of the Small Biz 100 2021 and I’m excited to connect with other independent businesses to share success stories and ideas for the future in terms of improving and strengthening our businesses and surviving future challenges.

“In my shop we pride ourselves on our friendly and personal customer service and in being part of a vibrant and thriving local high street. We feel that as more people shop online, it’s really important that small retailers learn to survive so our high streets remain alive and interesting and can continue to contribute to local communities through providing employment and supporting local schools and charities.

“Our survival is in part due to being a member of Down Your High Street (an online marketplace for independent retailers) which ensured we received online trade during lockdown. Meanwhile, one of our team, Ruth, spent lockdown creating facemasks which we sold in the shop after we reopened, raising over £1,400 for Francis House Children’s Hospice.

“We are proud of how we all survived lockdown as a team and as a business, and we are looking forward to shouting about our business from the rooftops on our special Small Biz 100 day – and will be doing some special giveaways and promotions. You can follow us on Instagram or Facebook to be among the first to find out!”

This year, ahead of next month’s UN Climate Summit COP26 in Glasgow, the SmallBiz100 features small firms with a passion for sustainability, to demonstrate the important role small businesses play in tackling climate change and helping the UK to achieve net zero.

Giddy Goat Toys is working towards sustainability through recycling and reusing everything they can. Staff are encouraged to travel to work using public transport and Amanda recently used the government reopening grant to upgrade the store’s lighting to environmentally friendly LED panels.

Michelle Ovens CBE, director of Small Business Saturday UK, said: “Throughout the crisis we have been reminded of the special role that small firms play in local areas, looking after their customers, communities and the planet. We are excited to be kicking off this year’s campaign to show our thanks to amazing small businesses like Giddy Goat Toys. As firms recover from the challenges of the pandemic, we are calling upon everyone to get behind the campaign to make it our most impactful Small Business Saturday yet.”

A not-for-profit campaign, Small Business Saturday was originally founded by American Express in the US in 2010. It remains the principal supporter of the campaign in the UK, as part of its ongoing championing of the UK high street and commitment to encourage consumers to shop local.

Small Business Saturday UK returns on 4 December following record-breaking success last year, which saw an estimated £1.1 billion spent with small businesses on the day itself.

To get involved in Small Business Saturday 2021 visit smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com