Small business owners say local trade-shows like the Suffolk Show are key to their survival

Thousands attending this year's annual event

The Suffolk Show 2024
Author: Tom ClabonPublished 2nd Jun 2024

The owners of small businesses in Suffolk are telling us that local trade-shows are key to these firms surviving pressures brought on from rising costs.

Earlier this week the Suffolk Show took place in Trinity Park, near Ipswich, with thousands of visitors and hundreds of traders in attendance.

"It also allows people like us to barter with bigger businesses"

Morgan Lewis is the founder of 'Bakeaholics', which started out in Suffolk and is now based in Norfolk: "Everyone started somewhere, the big brands didn't become massive overnight, you have to shop small to allow these businesses to become bigger and be more sustainable.

"It also allows people like us to barter with bigger businesses. I don't have a leg to stand on to say to these chocolate companies that I'm not going to pay these rising prices, while the bigger businesses can do that."

Emma Brigham is the owner of Walnut Tree Distillery- based in Norwich:

"As an independent business, it's really difficult to go out on the high-street. Having rural shows like this, it allows independents to be able to dip their toe in the water and to be able to showcase themselves to local people."

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