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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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ACT partner NearSt praised in Forbes for being the retail technology that could save the high street

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

ACTNearSt logo members can receive excellent benefits with NearSt, a powerful platform that encouragers more shoppers through the doors of specialist cycle shops.

NearSt was recently featured in Forbes for being an exciting new technology which could save bricks-and-mortar retail, with the article detailing information about a London-based trial.

 

Increasing footfall to London's biggest shopping streets

A world-first trial of the NearSt tech recently took place with the aim of driving more shoppers to some of London's best-known shopping streets in Mayfair and Belgravia. NearSt used Google Local Inventory Ads to promote real-time in-store inventory information from nearby shops including Creed, Pringle of Scotland and VICKISARGE to local shoppers. Not only is the shopping experience innovative for retailers, but it is deeply practical for shoppers, too. 

The goal was to draw online shoppers into 15 fashion, jewellery and health and beauty physical retailers, and was mainly focussed on the iconic Elizabeth Street and Mount Street shopping streets. 

As NearSt co-founder and CEO Nick Brackenbury explains, "We already knew that shoppers were going online to find products in their local stores, but we didn't realise just how impactful an entire street working together could be." 

The technology worked effectively to intercept customer journeys which started online - and drive them in-store.

 

High street success


The trial was a success, with 36% of shoppers visiting the targetted streets arriving after seeing one of the Local Inventory Ads in Google.

The footfall also translated into cash: An estimated 815 shoppers were driven to the targeted streets, spending an estimated £165,000 between them.

With NearSt's technology proven to increase high street footfall, we could see this implemented to other shopping districts in the country sooner rather than later.

NearSt's Nick Brackenbury says that we can expect this technology to become the norm, "Within two to three years, having a live view of what's on a shop's shelves visible in places like Google, Facebook, Instagram and other major platforms will be a basic expectation from customers - much like having opening hours and telephone numbers is in Google Maps today."

 

How ACT members can benefit

NearSt is leading the way in driving online shoppers' back to bricks and mortar retailers. 

NearSt's mission is to get people back onto UK high streets by making shopping from real shops easier and faster than buying online. Their powerful platform drives in-store footfall by automatically connecting the products currently hidden on shop shelves to Google's local inventory search through a simple integration with a business's Point of Sale system.

This enables customers to quickly and easily find what they are looking for in-store, supporting local businesses and curtailing the flow of business to online retail giants.
  • Boost in-store footfall
  • Better connectivity with your local community
  • Instant setup: get your stock online in less than 10 minutes
  • Automatic feed: Your shop's inventory displayed directly in Google search (no manual data entry required)
  • Insight: see which of your products are most popular with local shoppers searching near your store
  • Exclusive setup discount for ACT members (usually £299)
  • No ongoing costs
  • Free NearSt PLUS trial worth £100: run highly targeted Local Inventory Ads to shoppers searching nearby at the top of Google

Click the button below to find out more or email info@theact.org.uk.

Find out more

 

 

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