Shoppers are being urged to buy local and support Carmarthenshire’s wealth of small, independent retailers this weekend.

December 1 is Small Business Saturday, a nationwide campaign to support and promote the UK’s 5.7 million small businesses.

Carmarthenshire has a thriving small business community with some of the best food and drink producers in Wales and a variety of traders selling quality products and unique gifts in towns and villages up and down the county.

In November, the Small Business Saturday bus tour rolled into Carmarthen – one of just 30 locations chosen across the UK – as part of the official countdown to December 1.

Council Leader Emlyn Dole, who is responsible for economic development, is backing the campaign and he is hoping people will get behind the message.

He said: “The council is committed to supporting new and existing businesses in Carmarthenshire with the aim of helping to create new jobs and improving the local economy.

“Small Business Saturday is a great way of making people think about where they buy their goods from and hopefully encourage them to buy from local, independent traders.

“We are very fortunate to have a large range of small businesses here in Carmarthenshire and it is important that we support them as they are the backbone of our local economy. Hopefully once people see the range and quality of products available, they will continue to buy from these businesses throughout the year.”

• The council has just launched a pilot initiative to support traders during quieter times with periods of free parking in council-run short stay car parks, for more information visit www.carmarthenshire.gov.wales and click on Travel, Roads & Parking. This is in addition to the five free parking days the council offers town centres every year. You can also park in Llanelli’s multi-storey car for just £1 all day every Saturday until January 12, which is in partnership with Ymlaen Llanelli.

Tagged business, Carmarthenshire, Carmarthenshire Council, Small Business Saturday