Bristol startup among 100 firms backed by national small business initiative

BRISTOL, U.K. - Oct. 8, 2013 - PRLog -- An online retailer selling exclusive photographs of Bristol and other UK cities has been included in a list of Britain’s top 100 firms taking part in a nationwide initiative to support small companies.

Le Shop (http://www.leshopuk.com/), the Bristol-based company which provides prints, mugs, t-shirts and other items featuring beautiful images of British towns and cities, was chosen by the organisers of Small Business Saturday.

Taking place on 7 December, the scheme is inspired by a hugely successful campaign in the US which encourages customers to spend money with small companies on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

According to American Express, more than 100 million Americans shopped with independent companies on Small Business Saturday in 2011.

The initiative was championed in the UK by Labour shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna but it has since received cross-party support including backing from the prime minister as well as large organisations including O2 and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Le Shop, which was founded in July this year, sells photographs from the food and culture blog http://www.lifestyledistrict.co.uk and is among 100 companies being showcased in the lead to 7 December.

To celebrate, Le Shop is offering 7% off all purchases on the day.

Dan Martin, who co-founded Le Shop and Lifestyle District with Virginia Allwood, says: “We are delighted to be among 100 innovative companies being celebrated ahead of Small Business Saturday.

“It’s very tough setting up your own business but schemes like this are vital in encouraging public support for entrepreneurs who are going it alone and trying to build the big businesses of the future.

“We encourage everyone to support their local economy and spend money with a small business on Saturday 7 December.”

Notes to editors

Founded in Bristol in July 2013, Le Shop sells exclusive photographs captured for the food and culture blog http://www.lifestyledistrict.co.uk. The images can be used on prints, mugs, t-shirts, magnets and aprons.

The name Le Shop (http://www.leshopuk.com/) is derived from the nationalities of the two founders. Virginia Allwood, who has 10 years’ experience in the advertising industry is French and Dan Martin, a business journalist for the past 12 years, who is British.

Le Shop is at http://www.leshopuk.com and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/LeShop UK and Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/LeShopUK

For more information, contact Dan Martin on dan@lifestyledistrict.co.uk or 07807 839 593