Published: Thursday, 1 December 2022

Oxford City Council is encouraging local people to support Small Business Saturday on 3 December.

Now in its 13th year, the annual campaign was originally created by American Express to shine a light on small businesses and all they do for their communities. It’s a great time to shop locally and make inroads into that Christmas shopping. Oxford’s historic Covered Market is a great place to start.

Every day is a small business day at Oxford’s historic Covered Market, where history is made and the future is always in sight. With over 50 traders, small and ideally locally-owned, independent businesses are at its heart.

Many traders have operated in the market for well over 30 years, with some businesses, topping a 75-year landmark. Keeping abreast of retail trends, the market also provides exciting opportunities for brand-new traders to join and build up their dream businesses.

The Covered Market’s array of traders offer the widest-ever to date selection of specialist artisan produce, café’s, bars, gifts experiences, fashion and lifestyle products.

Five exciting new businesses have recently joined this unique and much-loved community:

  • Rozana is a Lebanese takeaway offering a wide selection of freshly made takeaway food, including great vegan options
  • A Woollen Cosy Life is an elegant boutique, offering a wide variety of finished woollen products to suit both interiors and wardrobes, from unique brands all made with tradition at their heart
  • Soctopus offers fun, personality-led socks with both a British and European design style, translating familiar cultural icons, sports and hobbies into ‘fun for your feet’
  • All Scents Covered is an expansion of The Oxford Soap Company and has a wide selection of aromatic fragrance candles, diffusers, wax melts and more
  • Tap Social Local craft brewery Tap Social have opened a pop-up shop offering their whole range of cans, baked goods from their other new venture Proof Social Bakehouse, their brand-new Xmas hampers, merchandise, plus a few fresh beers on draught and festive mulled wine

“The Small Business Saturday campaign is an excellent opportunity to promote small businesses in Oxford and to celebrate the contribution smaller businesses make to our city.

“This is not an easy time for businesses or shoppers and we appreciate people are having to make tough decisions about how they spend their money. Shopping locally benefits the Oxford economy and provides vital support to businesses.

“We have a new Christmas campaign running to promote the Covered Market and encourage visitors to the city centre. The campaign will run across Oxford City Council and The Covered Market’s social media pages, local media and on poster sites across Oxford.

“Small Businesses are the heart and soul of our city and district shopping centres. They help give the City of Oxford its unique character and employ thousands of local people.”

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council

People can show their support for the Oxford’s Covered Market by voting to make it Britain's Favourite Market at NAMBA’s awards. 

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