{$inpagemarkup}

Search News

Results: 1-10 of 650


Small Business Strategy Inquiry 2025 - ACT and Bira call for members to share their voice

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on... Read more…

Beyond the discount: Restoring integrity to the cycle supply chain

18 Jun 2025

The Association of Cycle Traders believes the time has come for greater accountability throughout our supply chain, writes ACT Director Jonathan Harrison in an article published for BikeBiz.
Read more…

Bira welcomes Wales' business rates proposals but calls for key improvements

11 Jun 2025

Bira has welcomed the Welsh Government's consultation on business rate reforms for retail shops, whilst calling for significant improvements to ensure the proposals truly support high street... Read more…

New awards launch to champion Britain's independent high street heroes

9 Jun 2025

Retailers on Britain's high streets are being encouraged to put themselves forward for the first-ever Love Your High Street Awards, designed to celebrate the small businesses that bring... Read more…

"Tectonic shift" in employment law threatens independent retailer viability, warns Bira podcast

6 Jun 2025

Independent retailers are facing a "generational" transformation of employment law that could fundamentally change how small businesses operate, according to the final episode of Bira's first... Read more…

Retailers hope warm weather and bank holidays will boost high street sales

16 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said that members are hopeful the warm weather, Easter weekend and upcoming bank holidays will provide a much-needed boost to high street sales.
Read more…

Economic growth surges to 0.7%, but "April reality check" looms for high street retailers

15 May 2025

UK economy delivers strongest quarterly performance in a year despite forecasts of business downturn.
Read more…

Communities come together for Local Bike Shop Day 2025 celebrations

13 May 2025

Local Bike Shop Day 2025 brought a wave of... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira welcomes Bank of England's latest interest rate cut

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has welcomed the Bank of England's decision to reduce interest rates from 4.5% to 4.25%, calling it a "much-needed boost" for the retail sector, including for cycling... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira responds to Beales' "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" as iconic store makes final protest

8 May 2025

ACT parent company Bira has responded to the news that the 144-year-old Beales department store is staging a "Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale" in its final weeks of trading, with giant yellow... Read more…

Back to news menu

Local crafters band together to sell handmade goods in new shop

Posted on in Business News

A group of crafters have banded together to open a new store in Wickham, Hampshire selling their own handmade goods.

Crafts

The Square Yard, which opened in early September, has already proven popular with the local community. The women met when running their own individual stalls at craft fairs and came up with the idea to band together and open a shop to sell their items together.

Helen Field, of Fresh from The Field, has been pleased with how the first few days have gone. She said: “We have had lot of interest and had quite a few people coming in. Everybody that comes in likes the idea which is good.”

With lots of coffee shops in the local area, the friends felt that there was a gap in the market for a gift shop, especially one that sells local goods and supports small businesses. While The Square Yard stocks the owners’ goods, it is also open to other local crafters.

Helen said: “We also put it out to other crafters that have been part of the markets. We want to ensure that we have a diverse product range and make sure that we have a good mix of everything.”

The shop stocks a range of products including soap, candles, jams and preserves, honey, bath bombs, shower gel, jewellery, bags, and more. It is something that the local community has welcomed.

 

Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.