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Independent shops better than big retailers at surviving COVID in the UK

1 May 2024

Small shops have been more "agile" at fighting COVID sale slumps than chain stores, according to a new report.
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Bike shops and cyclists alike urged to gear up to take advantage of Local Bike Shop Day 2024

30 Apr 2024

The UK’s estimated 7.6 million cyclists are being urged to get on their bikes on Saturday May 4th and head down to their local independent bike shop, as many prepare special activities to... Read more…

Peterborough store selling solely local products looks to expand.

29 Apr 2024

A Peterborough store stocking products solely from local entrepreneurs said it is bucking the High Street trend and looking to expand due to its success.
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BIRA launches ‘High Street Matters’ podcast for independent retailers

29 Apr 2024

BIRA is giving independent businesses across the UK a powerful new resource with the launch of its “High Street Matters” podcast.
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Tesco accused of undercutting local shops via its wholesale business.

29 Apr 2024

The Guardian has reported independent shopkeepers saying prices they pay at Tesco’s cash-and-carry arm Booker are often higher than in Tesco’s stores.
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Get ready to celebrate independent Record Store Day

18 Apr 2024

Independent record stores around the country are preparing to celebrate all things vinyl for this year’s Record Store Day on Saturday April 20th. 
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Indies encouraged to put themselves forward for Retail Business of the Year award.

18 Apr 2024

BIRA, the British Independent Retailers Association, has announced its partnership with this year’s SME National Business Awards., joining the 2024 awards as a leading sponsor, backing... Read more…

Family-run Polesworth fish and chip shop celebrates 40 years in business with half-price chips.

18 Apr 2024

A Midlands fish and chip shop is celebrating 40 years in business and offering half-price chips to mark the milestone.
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Assault of shop workers to be made specific criminal offence

18 Apr 2024

Assaulting a shop worker is to be made a separate criminal offence in England and Wales as part of a government response to a wave of retail crime. 
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New stores helping Cardiff arcades buck retail trends.

18 Apr 2024

Eleven new businesses that have opened in the last year in the historic arcades of Cardiff city centre’s Morgan Quarter, made up of the Morgan and Royal arcades, have helped the arcades... Read more…

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How was Cycle to Work Day for you?

Posted on in Cycles News

Since 1990 the percentage of the population that cycles to work has continued to increase year on year. A report conducted by the Department of Transport shows that the average bicycle miles travelled per cyclist per year has increased from 687 miles in 2002 to an impressive 1,144 miles in 2017!

As a nation, Britain continues to strive for successful cycling - in 2017, cyclists travelled 3.3 billion miles on British roads, 3% further than in the previous year, and 29% further than 20 years ago!

Encouraging more people to join the cycling movement!

So, what is preventing more people from cycling to work? The Department for Transport found that the top two reasons that people don't cycle to work are road safety concerns and not having access to a bicycle.

In May 2019 the ACT launched a 4 part definitive guide to safer cycling series, which included elements such as how to avoid road collisions, how to dress appropriately and how to ride in different conditions.  As more cyclists take to the roads the government has created initiatives to help improve cycling safety, such as Cambridge's Dutch-style roundabout which gives priority to cyclists over motorists. But is enough being done?

What is Cycle to Work Day?

Launched in 2012, Cycle to Work Day celebrates the UK Government's Cycle to Work scheme that started in 2011 hoping to encourage more people to get on their bikes and cycle to work. In 2018, more than 25,000 people took part in the initiative.

The annual event invites employers as well as individuals to sign up and reap the potential benefits of active commuting including increased workplace productivity, lower rates of sick leave and improved wellbeing.

There have been initiatives run up and down the country, for example commuters in London had the opportunity to travel to work for free on Santander bicycles (Boris bikes) on the 8th of August. 

Whilst Cycle to Work has been successfully operating now for more than 20 years, seen improvements to the scheme (the recent inclusion of e-bikes), and has brought in new customers through the doors of the IBD a recent article in CIN questioned the role of third party Cycle to Work providers. 
 
Has Cycle to Work Day had an impact on your shop? Let us know in the comments below.

An already established solution

To encourage more people to purchase their first bike or upgrade their current one there is an increasingly popular already in place at c.700 IBDs across the country.

Ride it away retail finance is an already well-established solution for consumers. It provides an easy solution to spread the cost of higher priced items, with the advantage of bundling in other accessories, with a limit of up to £15,000 - and customers can ride the bike away, straight away! 

Find out more about Ride it away retail finance here.


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