Left to right Tom Flynn, Small Business Saturday Tour Director, Victoria Pulman, Your Pontypridd BID Manger, Yusuf Behardien, Business Wales, Robin James, James Mobility & Furniture, James Payne, Projects Officer, Your Pontypridd BID, Casper Harris, Organic Wholefoods & Homebrew, Rez Jamal, Kookoo Madame, Claire Thomas, Brent Thomas Toys & Gifts, Scott Griffiths, Scott & Rachel Photography

On 15th November 2018) the Small Business Saturday UK bus tour arrived in Pontypridd and Tom, Pete the Seat and rest of the Small Business Saturday tour team met and showcased Mill Street’s small businesses to the rest of the UK for over an hour.

Your Pontypridd BID secured a short stop, one of only three Welsh towns cities to do so, (Carmarthen and Cardiff were the other stops) to promote the wide range of small businesses Pontypridd had, to give the hard working business owners a chance to share their business stories, highlight the importance of the small business to the town and promote Small Business Saturday on 1st December.

Five small businesses, KooKoo Madame, Brent Thomas Toys & Gifts, Organic Wholefoods and Homebrew, James Mobility & Furniture and Scott and Rachel Photography were interviewed by the famous Pete the Seat on his Sofa for Facebook live and spoke about why they set up their businesses, the ups and down of running a small business in Pontypridd and how they are adapting to the ever changing retail environment.

The video are here KooKoo Madame Brent Thomas Toys & Gifts and James Mobility & Furniture Organic Wholefoods and Homebrew and Scott and Rachel Photography

Along with BID Manager Victoria Pulman who also chatted to Pete to highlight the range of work the Business Improvement District to raise the profile of the town’s business and increase footfall.

Victoria went on to say ‘Im delighted that the Small Business Saturday tour Bus came and to thank them for showcasing Pontypridd and specifically Mill Street where more than 75% of the retailers are small businesses offering everything from fish and chips and great coffee to photography, flowers, candles, toys, newspapers, sweets, women’s fashion and organic, world foods and fresh local produce, proving Mill Street and Pontypridd has something for everyone’

Your Pontypridd BID would like to thank the other small business, Business Wales and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council for attending and supporting the event as well.

James Payne, Projects Officer at the BID said 'We’re delighted to give the businesses this fantastic opportunity and glad to see such a good turn out and we're looking forward to doing it all over again next year, hopefully with a full day stop and to more small businesses sharing their stories.

And remember to come and shop in Pontypridd’s fantastic small businesses on Small business Saturday 1st December and keep support them all year round.