Small Business Saturday in London: Posters, Pull-Up Banners and Flyers for Independent Shops

Small Business Saturday lands on Saturday 5 December 2026. If you run a cafe, a bookshop, a florist or a gift shop in London, that date is worth circling. Shoppers go looking for a reason to pick the little shop over the big website. So, give them one.

A clear poster in the window helps. So does a tall banner by the door, and a flyer slipped into a bag. None of it is hard. ExactPrint can print all three from the artwork you send, which leaves you free to get on with running the shop.

What the Day Means for Your Shop

It is a campaign for independent businesses, held on the first Saturday in December. It runs on its own, and ExactPrint is not a partner. You do not need its logo. Your shop name and a warm, clear message will do the job.

Think Like Someone Walking Past

Picture a busy road in Hackney or Southwark on a grey December afternoon. People are cold. They are carrying bags. They glance at windows; they do not study them. Your print gets a moment, no more.

That is why one message beats five. Pick a single thing you want people to know, and say it big. Think of it like calling out to a friend across a busy station. You would not shout your whole week. You would shout one word, and hope they turn round.

Ideas for Your One Message

Stuck? Here are a few that suit all sorts of small shops:

Open late on Saturday, with the time big enough to read from across the road
Meet the maker, if you sell things you craft yourself
Gift wrapping done here, which is a gift in itself for busy people
Thank you for shopping local, simple and kind
Market stalls this weekend, for traders who move about

Keep it short. If it takes a deep breath to read, it is too long. Say it out loud to someone who has never seen your shop. If they get it first time, you are done.

Independent Shop Posters That Stop People in the Street

Posters are the workhorse of the day. They are simple, they bend to nearly any shop, and they do their job all day without a word. You can order A1 posters, A2 posters and A3 posters printed from your own artwork. ExactPrint’s A1 poster page lists a same-day dispatch option at checkout, and the A2 poster page lists a same-day option at checkout.

Choosing a Size

Size depends on where the poster hangs and how far away your reader stands.

A1 is 594 x 841mm. It is big enough to read from across the road, so it suits a large shop window.
A2 is 420 x 594mm. A handy middle size for a door, a smaller pane or a wall inside.
A3 is 297 x 420mm. Lovely for a counter, a noticeboard or the end of a shelf, where people stand close.

Making the Words Do the Work

A poster is not a leaflet. Nobody reads a paragraph on one. Here is what tends to help:

Use big letters for the main line and smaller ones for the detail.
Leave empty space. It lets the message breathe.
Pick colours that stand apart, like dark on light or light on dark.
Choose one good photo, not six tiny ones.
Put your shop name and the date, Saturday 5 December, somewhere obvious.

Hang posters inside the window, facing out, at about eye level. A florist might put one beside the winter wreaths. A bookshop could use the glass next to the door.

A Quick Note on Street Displays

Thinking about anything outside your door? Check with your local council first. Rules change from one area to the next, and we cannot advise on them here.

Pull Up Roller Banner: A Tall Hello at Your Door

A roller banner works a bit like a friendly person standing by your entrance. It is tall, it is easy to spot, and it never gets tired.

You can order a custom pull up roller banner at 800 x 2000mm. It is a good shape for a narrow doorway or the space beside a till. The banner page lists same-day delivery across London.

Where a Pull-Up Banner Earns Its Place

Beside the door, so people see it as they come in
Near the till, where there is often a small queue and a little time to read
At the end of a counter, where people tend to wait

Designing for a Tall, Thin Shape

Think signpost, not poster. Eyes land near the top first, so put your main message there. Then add the date. Then a small line at the bottom, like your shop name or website.

One tip from the shop floor: keep the key words above waist height. Tables and stock have a habit of hiding the lower part of a pull-up banner.

Shop Local Flyers and Business Cards That Go Home With Customers

A poster stays on the wall. A flyer walks out of the door. That is the whole trick. You can order A5 flyers at 148 x 210mm, a size that fits nicely in a hand or a paper bag.

What to Put on a Flyer

The front: one big line, such as “Thank you for shopping local”.
The back: your opening times, your website or social handle, and a short, friendly thank you.

Do Not Forget Business Cards

A small pile of business cards by the till gives people something to keep. Pop one into every bag. Weeks later, when someone wants a gift or a coffee, your name is right there in their pocket.

Pick Your Print: A Quick Guide for Busy Shop Owners

Short on time? This table shows where each print fits, so you can match the job to the spot in your own shop.

Print	Best Spot	Best Job	Size
A1 poster	Large window	Catches eyes from across the road	594 x 841mm
A2 poster	Door or smaller pane	Shares one clear message	420 x 594mm
A3 poster	Counter or noticeboard	Adds detail up close	297 x 420mm
Pull up roller banner	Beside the door or till	Welcomes people in	800 x 2000mm
A5 flyer	Till or shopping bag	Sends your message home	148 x 210mm
Business card	Beside the till	Helps people find you again	Small and easy to keep

A Simple Plan You Can Follow

Choose your one message: Write it as one short line.
Choose your prints: A poster for the window, a banner for the door, flyers for the till.
Check your artwork twice: Read every word aloud, then ask a friend to read it too. Look hard at spelling, dates and times.
Order early: Printing, checking and putting things up all take a little time, so do not leave it until the last Friday.
Put it up: Window, door, till. Then step outside and see what a stranger sees.
Say thanks: Hand over a flyer or a card with each sale, and mean it.

Small Business Saturday Is Your Moment, So Make It Easy to Spot

London’s small shops give the city its character. A bakery in Islington, a record stall in Shoreditch, a florist in Southwark: each one has a story people want to hear. Print helps you tell it.

Keep the plan simple. One message. One poster in the window, one banner by the door, a stack of flyers at the till. Order in good time, check your words twice, and enjoy Small Business Saturday.

Ready to start? Take a look at the pull up roller banner at ExactPrint, choose your artwork, and give your shop a tall, friendly hello.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size poster suits a small shop window?

It depends on the glass and the distance. A1 (594 x 841mm) reads well from across the road. A2 and A3 suit smaller panes, doors and counters, where people stand close.

Can I use my own design on a pull up roller banner?

Yes. Your own artwork, logo and colours go on the banner. Keep the main message near the top and leave space around the edges so nothing feels crowded or cut off.

Should I choose a poster or a flyer?

They do different jobs. A poster grabs attention from a distance, while a flyer goes home with the customer. Most small shops use both, with the poster in the window and flyers at the till.

What should I put on a shop poster?

Stick to one main message, like opening hours or a thank you. Add your shop name and the date. Big letters, plenty of space and one clear photo beat a crowd of details.

Are business cards worth ordering for a one-day event?

Yes, they are easy to hand out and easy to keep. A card tucked into each bag carries your shop name, address and website home, so customers can find you again long after the day.