Shop Small is dedicated to supporting the thousands of small businesses in the UK, who are the backbone of our community and economy. Created by American Express® in 2012, Shop Small helps to promote small businesses that welcome American Express Cards at participating small businesses.

There is no cost to be included. These resources are fully funded by American Express and are provided to eligible Merchants at no additional cost.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots movement which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to shop local and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses. In 2019, Small Business Saturday UK will take place on Saturday 7 December 2019.

Created by American Express® in 2012, Shop Small helps to promote small businesses that welcome American Express Cards all year round. Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots campaign that encourages people to shop in local, small, independent businesses across the country on Small Business Saturday, 7 December 2019. 

American Express Maps ("Maps") displays eligible businesses to help Cardmembers find places that accept American Express Cards.  The Shop Small filter displays the physical business address of small businesses participating in the Shop Small Cardmember offer.

Businesses listed under "newly listed" have recently started accepting American Express Cards within the last 6 months.

Maps will continue to expand with new eligible merchants if you would like to request to be added to the map please call 0800 032 7216 or email shopsmalluk@aexp.com

Maps displays eligible American Express Card accepting merchants as defined:

• The business must welcome American Express Cards and have recently taken an American Express transaction
• The business must be located in the United Kingdom (UK), which consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and includes islands such as the Isle of Wight, Anglesey, the Isles of Scilly, the Hebrides and the island groups of Orkney and Shetland and the self-governing dependent territories of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands
• Have processed at least one American Express transaction in the last 12 months;
• A traditional "street-side" business that deals with its customers face to face in premises that the business owns or rents.
• A Shop Small business must have at least one physical business location – up to a maximum of 30 locations – within the UK
• Businesses must not be a government agency, public administration organisation, charity, non-profit, trade association, shopping property management company, direct seller, or political organisation or operating in industries that are deemed ineligible for Shop Small
• Businesses that are part of a franchise brand are evaluated on a case-by-case basis
• Businesses that have an online or mail order business are excluded as are those who process American Express Card payments solely through a third-party processor or as part of an affiliate programme.
  

Small businesses who meet the qualifying criteria will automatically become a Shop Small Merchant, featuring on the Shop Small Map and will benefit from the Shop Small American Express Cardmember offer.  American Express may also determine that other small businesses, in addition to the ones above, are eligible to participate in Shop Small on a case-by-case basis. Eligibility requirements will be determined at our sole discretion and may change at any time. If you are a qualifying small business and have processed a transaction but still aren’t appearing on the Shop Small map and would like to discuss your eligibility, please call us on 0800 032 7216.

If you no longer meet the eligibility criteria, breach the Shop Small Terms and Conditions or if we have reasonable grounds to believe that you have engaged in any fraud, gaming of the Shop Small programme or material abuse related to the Shop Small programme, such as seeking to obtain an advantage through unfair or deceptive means, we may take actions which we reasonably consider appropriate in the circumstances, and this may include cancelling your participation in Shop Small.

In most instances the address on the Map will reflect the details we have on file for your business. If this is showing incorrectly on the Map, this could be due to several reasons.  For example, we hold your registered address on file which is different to your trading location, or your business has moved premises and we have an old address on file.  You can update your address and location on the Map by searching for your business on the Map. You may then select ‘suggest an edit’ to request a change to your business. Two options will appear 1) Incorrect business information and 2) Business has closed down.  Select the most appropriate option and fill in the details then select submit. You will then receive a message acknowledging the request. 

Please note that any changes may take up to 21 business days to reflect on the map. Smaller changes to your address location on the Shop Small map (i.e. left vs right-hand side of the road) may not always be possible as some map data is not controlled by American Express. 

Any changes you have made to your business location on the map may take up to a maximum of 21 business days to be reflected on the map.  Please note that smaller changes to your address location on the map (i.e. left vs right-hand side of the road) may not always be possible as some map data is not controlled by American Express.

As a business, it costs nothing to feature and it is a great way to get your business more exposure. If you decide to remove your location(s) from the map it could mean that less Cardmembers will spend at your business.  If you still wish to remove your business location(s) from the map, call us on 0800 032 7216. 

We're here to help you. Please call us on 0800 032 7216. We are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

It's great to hear you want to do this. By accepting American Express, you could find yourself welcoming new customers and continuing to provide great service by allowing your existing customers to pay with their card of choice.

You can find out more by calling us on 0800 33 99 11.  We are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, or find out more online.

If the FAQs on this page do not answer your specific question, call us on 0800 032 7216.