VistaPrint, the design and print partner to small businesses, has announced the winners of its latest Small Business of the Match (SBOTM) initiative in partnership with Liverpool Football Club.

As a result of the scheme, small businesses will get the opportunity to reach millions of viewersthrough pitch-side advertising during Liverpool FC home games throughout the season. In total, 15 small businesses across the UK have been chosen after a rigorous selection process that saw 830 entries submitted. 

In addition to pitch-side advertising, as part of SBOTM, during the 2023-2024 Premier League season, the 15 chosen small businesses will receive:

• Hospitality tickets to a home match including access to the Legends Lounge.

• Private transfers to and from the match.

• A tour of Anfield stadium.

• A personalised LFC shirt with their business name on the back.

• The opportunity to be a part of future LFC and VistaPrint initiatives.

Over the course of the Small Business of the Match initiative, millions of viewers have seen the winners showcased on pitch-side LED screens during Liverpool matches. 

Among previously awarded businesses, one local barber found that their business went up by 20% over the two months following their selection as the Small Business of the Match. Furthermore, the number of people who downloaded their app also increased by 20%.

Commenting on the impact of winning Small Business of the Match, Georgina Tang, owner at Yours Naturally, Naturally Yours, said: “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Small businesses like mine do not get the recognition they deserve, we’re working 7 days a week and round the clock. To have our name featured all over the pitch-side – it’s just so amazing.  I can’t wait to take my family, especially my son and staff to the event.”

Fellow winner, Catrin Kincaid, creator and owner at Cubefun, said: “I was in shock when I found out, I couldn’t quite believe it. This is such an amazing opportunity for a small business like mine and the ripple effect from this sort of exposure is priceless. I think the experience will definitely help build brand awareness across the UK. It will give me so much content to use on my own social media channels and hopefully attract new customers to my website.”

Sabine Leveiller, Marketing Vice President for Europe at VistaPrint commented: “We’re extremely pleased to announce the winners of this season’s Small Business of the Match initiative. We want to make small businesses feel big, celebrate the amazing people behind them and bring them to the attention of a global audience.”

“Small businesses play a massive role both in the community and the economy as a whole. We want to help them flourish through the kind of exposure they would otherwise not be able to attain.Through this incredible partnership with Liverpool FC, we are able to elevate these businesses to new heights, helping them unlock new opportunities. Previous winners have seen real business benefits from the initiative and we look forward to seeing success for this new crop of companies over the course of this season and beyond.” 

Ben Latty, Commercial Director at Liverpool FC, said: “It’s fantastic to work with VistaPrint once again on the Small Business of the Match initiative, and we are excited to be announcing the 15 worthy winners for this season. The Small Business of the Match initiative has already made a tangible impact to previous winners, so we’re looking forward to celebrating and putting a spotlight on this year’s crop of small businesses. We’re proud to see the benefits not just for their businesses but their wider communities, as this is at heart of what we do as a club, and is a central part of The Red Way, our award-winning sustainability programme.”

All 15 winners of the Small Business of the Match initiative have now been notified, and you can find the full list below:

• Bettyliciouscooks, an African, Creole, Soul Food, Plant based food company

• Yours Naturally Naturally Yours Limited, a Liverpool-based natural and organic cosmetics retailer

• Harvey’s Dog Grooming Salon, based in Carnforth

• The Gateway Collective, a social enterprise tackling loneliness and isolation with community building and support

• Desraj Designs, Punjabi-themed custom clothing designer based in Gravesend

• Liverpool Food Network, the city’s first dedicated network for food & drink suppliers and independent hospitality businesses

• Cheeky Nibble, which specialises in vegan and allergen-free granola, inspired by famous British desserts and drinks. The company is based in Fakenham, Norfolk

• Into Music a Lincolnshire-based independent musical equipment retailer, specialising in drum kits

• CubeFun, an educational game designer and retailer based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland

• Tamed Minds, Qualified Meditation Coach & Mind Detox Practitioner

• Harris window cleaning, a window and gutter cleaning specialist in Liverpool

• Fischerco, a Liverpool based gardening services company

• Soldier On Coffee Co, a veteran-owned and operated online coffee shop and local coffeesupplier, based in Ulster

• Deerheart Collective, a studio with 4 tattoo artists and 2 barbers in Lowestoft

• Enviro-Tree, Domestic & Commercial Arboricultural services across the North-West.