Imagine Me Stories in Essex has been named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring small businesses for 2025 by the Small Business Saturday campaign, as it kicks off its annual call to champion and support the nation’s favourite businesses.
Imagine Me Stories a company dedicated to transforming the way children experience literature. They have a book subscription service for children aged 0-12, which provides books with Black protagonists and inspiring Black history resources to help children see themselves in the stories they read while encouraging all families to build diverse libraries. Additionally, they partner with schools across the UK to diversify their libraries, creating more inclusive learning environments for all children. It was founded by Keisha Ehigie in 2019.
Following a nationwide search, the Essex firm has been selected as part of this year’s SmallBiz100 line-up, which showcases the most innovative and admired small businesses across the nation, as part of the count-down to Small Business Saturday on 6 December.
Running in the UK for over a decade, Small Business Saturday is the UK’s most successful small business campaign, which celebrates small businesses and encourages the public to support and spend with small firms.
“When I started Imagine Me Stories in 2019, I simply wanted my daughter, and children like her, to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. Being named a SmallBiz100 business is a huge milestone and a powerful reminder of the change that small businesses can create in the world.” Keisha Ehigie- Founder, Imagine Me Stories
Imagine Me Stories profiled by the campaign on 29 August 2025 as part of the 100-day countdown to Small Business Saturday UK.
“Small businesses are the nation’s favourite businesses – bringing immeasurable value to our local communities and powering the wider economy,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Director of Small Business Saturday UK.
“Firms like Imagine Me Stories in this year’s SmallBiz100 represent some of the UK’s most-loved small businesses. It is so important that we encourage public support for small businesses up and down the country, as many are still facing a host of challenges as they enter this critical final stretch of the year.”
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots non-commercial campaign that was originally founded by American Express in the U.S. in 2010, and the brand remains the campaign’s principal supporter in the UK.
Dan Edelman, General Manager, UK Merchant Services at American Express, said: “Through our long-standing support of Small Business Saturday, American Express is proud to champion the nation’s small businesses. Congratulations to this year’s SmallBiz100, which once again showcases the incredible vibrancy and innovation of small firms and the valuable contribution they make to local communities.”
Over the decade it has been running in the UK Small Business Saturday has engaged millions of people and seen billions of pounds spent with small businesses across the UK on Small Business Saturday, with an impact that lasts all year round.
On Small Business Saturday, customers across the UK go out and support all types of small businesses, from independent shops and restaurants, to small service and b2b businesses like plumbers and accountants. Many small businesses take an active role in promoting the day by hosting events and offering promotions.
Last year, the campaign saw support from the Prime Minister, the Mayor of London, as well as the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Over 90% of local councils also supported the campaign, which trended across social media on the day.
To learn more Small Business Saturday’s SmallBiz100 visit https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com.
