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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…

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IRC launches ‘We are open' online directory to promote small shops and business still open

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

The Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC), a group of trade organisations representing different independent retail sectors across the UK, has launched ‘We are open', an online map and directory of independent shops and small businesses that are still open and operating responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the Government's guidance some high street retailers have been able to remain physically open as a ‘notable exception' whilst others will still be trading in other formats to serve their communities.

With many high street shops relying on physical footfall, it has become difficult for many small retailers to get the word out that they are still open and operating in some way. The new ‘We are open' map provides a much-needed platform for independent retailers to communicate to their customers and the wider general public that need their products and services that they remain open for business. To keep customers fully informed, the directory allows retailers to clarify the extent of opening whether it be fully open, by appointment only or as an online/delivery only basis.

In addition, business owners can also include offers available specifically for key workers, helping them to communicate that their shop is keen to help those working so hard to help us.

Consumers can simply enter their postcode to see the confirmed open independent retailers in their area. They can also search by sector, business type or by retail-specific filter options to refine their search.

Mark Walmsley, Chairman of the Independent Retailers Confederation said:
"From the feedback the IRC received from independent retailers across multiple sectors, as well as from the general public through our consumer-facing site Indie Retail, it became apparent that a platform such as ‘We are open' was essential.

"The public still needs the products, services and knowledge that independent retailers provide and the ‘We are open' directory helps them to quickly locate those shops that are open for business. This directory will help bridge the gap between customers looking for open shops in a certain location, from a specific sector or selling a particular brand, and the retailers that remain open in some way to serve the public."

Retailers can confirm their opening status now at: weareopen.uk/register. All UK independent retailers can add a listing onto the site completely free of charge.

Consumers wishing to look for retailers in their area should go online to weareopen.uk.

The 'We are open' artwork collection is designed by Wendy Jones-Blackett Ltd.

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