In the run up to Small Business Saturday I’ve been visiting and promoting the very best of small business in Aberavon.

Small Business Saturday is an opportunity to celebrate the great work that all our local businesses do and have been doing so well throughout these last few difficult months. It is a chance for us to show our support for them, for business owners and for those working in small businesses. They are the lifeblood of our town centre and make Aberavon a great place to live. It’s a chance to Shop Local and make a purchase that will help a local business this Christmas.

It was great to chat with Richard Jones at the Selections Gift Shop in Port Talbot. Nomination jewellery from Italy has been his most popular product in 2020 and Richard said his customers have been shopping earlier than ever for Christmas this year.

It was fantastic to get some early Christmas shopping in and support The Flower Box, Port. Lisa Griffiths has run the business on Forge Road for more than 20 years and said this year, more than ever, kind-hearted customers have been shopping for that special something to cheer up family and friends unable to meet up in person.

I was lucky enough to see first hand the innovations Tracey Lewis has introduced at run Ferrari’s cafe on Station Road in Port Talbot this Small Business Saturday UK.

Tracey was inspired to set up a family corner in the café she has run for more than 20 years after seeing so many families unable to spend time together at home this year.

We are so lucky to have such a welcoming small business community here in Port Talbot.

I visited Cresci’s Cafe Skewen to congratulate Robert and the whole Cresci family on the centenary of the business. Cresci’s is one of the oldest surviving businesses in the area and has been serving up the best ice-cream Wales has to offer since 1920! No bias here..!

It is vital, particularly in these unprecedented times, that small businesses such as Cresci’s remain at the heart of our communities.

I visited Ben and his team in the Afan Valley Bike Shed. I heard all about the great work they do to get people active by exploring our beautiful Afan Valley and helping to encourage people to cycle more when commuting to work through the Green Commute Initiative.

Great to hear that the business is expanding and going from strength to strength!