SMEs optimistic for year ahead
Jan 12 2010
SMEs expect to see a world of difference in the economy
Small businesses expect stronger trading conditions this year, according to a poll from SmallBusiness.co.uk.
Some 67 per cent of SMEs expect business to improve in 2010 and of those 16 per cent say conditions have already got better.
Frank O'Callaghan, owner of gift shop Humbugs of Towcester, says: ‘I feel a lot calmer. There’s not going to be any more explosions or banks failing. Christmas was really great compared to last year. We were 22 per cent up.’
Aidan Ruff, co-founder of wedding businesses The Ellingham Partnership, says: ‘This year looks to be a really good one. We’re already almost full with bookings. But I’m not sure how much that’s to do with the economy and how much is due to having increased our budget for promotions.
‘I think we’ll start to see a recovery just as long as the government doesn’t put its boot on our back with any more taxes,’ adds Ruff.
Of the 273 SMEs polled, 33 per cent say they are not expecting to see an improvement in business until next year.
According to the British Retail Consortium, sales in December were up 4.2 per cent, the strongest year-on-year uplift since December 2005.
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