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Bira Urges Chancellor to Safeguard Independent Retail in Upcoming Autumn Statement

24 Sep 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is set to address critical issues facing the UK's high streets at its upcoming Annual Conference, marking the event's return after a six-year... Read more…

Independent Retailers Association says steady inflation at 2.2% provides stability, but calls for interest rate reductio

19 Sep 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said the inflation rate holding steady at 2.2% in August provides some stability for the high street - but stresses the Bank of England... Read more…

Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Cash Processing – A Guide for Businesses

17 Sep 2024

UK Finance and others who form the Cash Industry Environment Charter have been discussing best practices when it comes to cash deposits, and as a result have produced a short guide on reducing... Read more…

Local crafters band together to sell handmade goods in new shop

17 Sep 2024

A group of crafters have banded together to open a new store in Wickham, Hampshire selling their own handmade goods.
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New data - pharmacies, pubs and banks made up half of the closures on Britain's High Streets in the first six months of 2024.

17 Sep 2024

New data has revealed that a total of 6,945 stores have closed so far in 2024 - the equivalent of 38 shops per day, although if you balance this with new store openings, there's only a net... Read more…

Town becomes hotspot for Taylor Swift fans with themed cafe and shop.

17 Sep 2024

Nestled in the Anglesey community of Beaumaris, a shop and café have built their business around all things Taylor Swift, and fans seem to love it. The Mock Turtle in Beaumaris,... Read more…

Investment in convenience sector hits record high of £1bn

17 Sep 2024

Over the last year, convenience retailers have spent a combined £1bn (up from £646m in the previous 12 months) refitting their stores, installing new energy efficient refrigeration... Read more…

Bira responds cautiously to encouraging trends in KPMG Retail Sales Monitor report.

3 Sep 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has responded to the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for August 2024. The report, which can be downloaded here, has highlighted:
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Pet Shop owner nominated for award for food bank donations

2 Sep 2024

Rebecca Harrington, owner of Purdy's pet shop in Coventry, has been nominated in the animal category at BBC CWR's Make a Difference awards for providing pet food parcels to food banks
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Standardised witness statement developed for retailers submitting CCTV evidence to the polic

2 Sep 2024

The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC), in collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police forces, has developed a standardised witness statement for retailers submitting... Read more…

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'You have to put in 110% to make a living' says independent retailer

Posted on in Business News

BBC Norfolk has highlighted small businesses calling for more support to help them increase their presence in the High Street.

Norfolk

Jewellery retailer Hollie Woodham has been selling in Norwich for the past 20 years but is concerned closed shops nearby affect footfall to hers, Nova Silver.

New and old businesses in Norwich agreed the key to establishing a thriving local economy was more support from local and national government.

Their thoughts echo the findings of a new report from the Federation of Small Businesses which has urged local authorities to create a specialised fund to support pop-ups, markets, and temporary use initiatives for first-time businesses to encourage new ventures on the High Street.

Ms Woodham said fluctuating customer levels also made it hard for the store to predict staffing requirements.

"There's a lot of shops that are closing down. Again, that doesn't bring people into the city; they think you're already closed.

"So it would be really helpful for pop-up shops to be in the city and to make a bigger community of independent shops."

Jon Lee runs a pop-up business, Feel Good Ice Cream, supported by Jarrold's department store.

He said he would like a more permanent presence on the city's high street.

"When you go from a small pop-up to a shop, it's a huge expense, and it's a bit of a financial burden on small businesses like myself," he said.

"So I think where you could meet in the middle, is where you could have the opportunity to go in [to a retail space] for a few months, to see if your model is going to work."

Jon Hook has recently re-opened a coffee shop, The Courtyard Cafe on Elm Hill.

It had been closed by previous owners for more than two years due to Covid and cost-of-living pressures.

Manager Tina Smart said since opening, she had been turning customers away on days the cafe was closed, so she remained optimistic about its prospects.

Mr Hook said: "Business rates, staffing costs; it isn't easy for small businesses.

"It's a tough gig and you really have got to put 110% in to make a living."

His views are reinforced by the findings of the FSB report.

FSB spokeswoman Candy Richards said: It’s important that small firms across the East of England are provided with the right environment, infrastructure and flexibility to be successful – and in turn help grow their local economy."

She said business rates remained a huge burden on high street small businesses, with the current Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) a key part of their survival.

The research found 26% of high street small businesses in the East of England said they would not survive without SBRR.

The FSB wants the SBRR threshold increased to help small firms.

It is also recommending free parking is offered on certain days to help increase footfall and would like free bus travel on certain routes.

The Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said: “Our mission is to bring economic growth to every part of the UK.

“I welcome the FSB’s thorough and detailed study and we will be engaging with them, and businesses across the country, as we develop our understanding and response to these important recommendations.”

A Norwich City Council spokesperson said: A council spokesperson said: “We recognise the valuable contribution independent retailers make to the social and economic life of the city and we understand many of them have been through a hard time since Covid, which is why we want to make the city centre more accessible and connected to more of our residents.

“To maintain a thriving city centre the council recognises it may need to find new and different ways to influence and cultivate the retail offer of Norwich.

"It’s why we are working closely with our partners in the public and private sectors to address these factors.”

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