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New research reveals the top emotions shoppers feel when buying FMCG products

27 Mar 2023

‘Comfort’ (34%), ‘curiosity’ (28%) and ‘nostalgia’ (19%) are among the top feelings consumers experience when buying a new FMCG product, according to a new... Read more…

Budget leaves retail sector disappointed with support offered by the Chancellor

16 Mar 2023

Industry experts and trade associations in the retail sector have been expressing their disappointment at the support offered to retailers in the Chancellor’s Budget.
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UK home entertainment market enjoys its tenth consecutive year of growth.

15 Mar 2023

The UK home entertainment market enjoyed its tenth consecutive year of growth in 2022 to reach a record, according to figures published by the Entertainment Retailers Association.
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Retailers face up to £1m fines for underage knife sales under new sentencing guidelines

14 Mar 2023

Retailers caught selling knives to children in England and Wales could face a £1m fine when new sentencing guidelines come into effect on 1 April.
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80% of British public want card payment fees slashed as the cost-of-living crisis hits businesses

14 Mar 2023

New data shows that a majority of the UK public oppose the rising and unregulated costs British businesses face for simply accepting payments. With the cost of doing business at record levels,... Read more…

How independents can become more sustainable

13 Mar 2023

From saving energy and lighting costs, to using biodegradable packaging and prolonging a product’s lifespan, Drapers Magazine has been looking at how independent retailers can improve... Read more…

Over 160,000 SMEs without mandatory employers’ liability insurance risk fines and prosecution

3 Mar 2023

More than 160,000 small businesses in the UK with between one and nine employees will not have employer’s liability insurance by the end of the year, according to new research from Smart... Read more…

Bakers showing resilience despite cost pressures

3 Mar 2023

Britain’s bakers are showing great resilience despite continued cost and operational pressures, according to industry groups.
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New research shows local high streets & shopping centres more resilient than major shopping hubs in cost-of-living crisis

3 Mar 2023

New data from commercial property specialist Colliers shows that in the face of the UK’s cost of living crisis, minor retail destinations such as local high streets and shopping centres... Read more…

Value of contactless payments grew 50% last year.

27 Feb 2023

Barclays, which oversees nearly half of the UK’s card spending, has reported that the total value of contactless payments made using Barclays cards in the UK increased by 49.7% year on... Read more…

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Cautious welcome from business leaders for new PM Sunak

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News, Outdoor News, Political News

As the economic clouds darken, business leaders have tentatively welcomed the arrival of Rishi Sunak as the country’s new prime minister.

Rishi SunakThis follows indicators showing optimism among business leaders falling this month to its lowest level since April 2020, during the first lockdown of the Covid pandemic. Rising inflation, a period of political uncertainty and increasing borrowing costs, which impacted on growth potential, were to blame.

Jeff Moody Commercial Director of bira said: "We welcome the news that Rishi Sunak is the new British Prime Minister, and we hope this ends the period of uncertainty for businesses and the country as a whole.

"Anything that will stabilise financial markets and improve consumer confidence will help the High Street in such a vital trading period is key and we hope that they restore the much-needed confidence in the financial market after so many weeks of turbulence.

"Now we ask for the Prime Minister and his cabinet to concentrate on reducing the cost burden now with prompt support for business on energy and tax burdens but also in the long term by committing to reducing the rates burden on 'Bricks and Mortar' retailers to prevent further closures announcements," he added.

Tony Danker, the director general of the CBI, said the former chancellor had a “track record of seeing the economy through difficult times” during the Covid pandemic.

“He is now coming in at a time of great uncertainty with tough choices ahead. The new prime minister can lose no time in easing the impact of market turmoil on households and firms and helping to restore fiscal credibility.”

Shevaun Haviland, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said his appointment came after a “hugely damaging” few months of political and economic uncertainty. “We cannot afford to see any more flip-flopping on policies – the UK’s businesses need a sustainable, long-term economic plan they can believe in.”

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the BRC, said that with consumer confidence at historically low levels, the new Prime Minister “will need to provide certainty to households and support them through the cost-of-living crisis.”

“Retailers are playing their part in supporting their customers, shielding them from the worst of rising costs resulting from a weaker pound, tight labour market and war in Ukraine. However, these efforts are threatened by the £800m bombshell of additional business rates that will hit retailers in April – a 10% rise that far outstrips sales growth over the last year. To support consumers at this difficult time, government should freeze business rates and reform the broken transitional relief system, or it will be households that pay through higher prices,” she added.

 

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