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Independent Retailers Association warns of difficult year ahead.

8 Jan 2024

The British Independent Retailers Association has said 2024 is anticipated to be a challenging period for shop keepers as economic challenges are still set to bite.
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Indie Retail Christmas Opening Hours

20 Dec 2023

The Indie Retail office will be open as usual (9am-5pm) for the majority of the Christmas period, with some exceptions.
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Bira CEO addresses surge in retail crime on the BBC

19 Dec 2023

Bira's CEO, Andrew Goodacre, took the spotlight on BBC Breakfast this week and later spoke with Nicky Campbell on BBC Radio 5 Live, shedding light on the rise in retail crime and shop theft,... Read more…

Dress shop crowned winner of Cambridge Christmas shop window competition.

18 Dec 2023

Dress shop Pocket Watch & Petticoats in Trinity Street has been crowned the winner in Cambridge BID’s Christmas window competition.
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Bira issues guide to protecting yourself against festive cyber scams

18 Dec 2023

In the age of online shopping, the pursuit of the best deals during the festive season is increasingly common. However, as consumers flock to virtual marketplaces, cybercriminals are seizing the... Read more…

Shoplifting now among the most common crime against small firms

18 Dec 2023

Fresh evidence about the increasing problem of thefts from shops has been revealed amid a warning that organised shoplifting is now among the most common type of crimes against small firms.
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Oldest record shop in Liverpool reopens with museum to celebrate city's musical heritage.

18 Dec 2023

One of the North West’s oldest record shops has reopened after 14 months, creating a small museum to pay tribute to its long-standing musical connections with the city.
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Indie jewellery retailer creates unique gold ‘Key Ring’ for new ITVX series

6 Dec 2023

Bristol and Cirencester-based bespoke fine jewellery retailer Titcombe Bespoke Jewellery, a member of the National Association of Jewellers, has received one of its most unusual commissions... Read more…

Family-owned butcher’s shop hopes 'Mary' will help Wigan families in need of food.

6 Dec 2023

Reynolds’ Butchers in Parbold, near Wigan, have set up a scheme called Mary’s Mince to help people living in the village.
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American Express Shop Small Highlights UK’s Top High Streets for Independent Shops

5 Dec 2023

Research commissioned by American Express Shop Small reveals the top 10 high streets for independent shops in the UK, shining a light on the nation’s small businesses that play... Read more…

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Small Stuff named as one of Best Small Shops Innovators

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

In the thirSmall Stuffd instalment of our ‘Meet the Innovators' series, we spoke to Hellen from Small Stuff, an eco-conscious children's lifestyle shop in Sheffield about how the forced closure of her bricks and mortar shop led to her thinking of new and innovative ways to connect with customers.

"I already had a basic online store, but spent the first week making sure products were up to date, giving options such as free local hand-delivery to our local community, free gift wrapping and hand written card services for lockdown birthdays and gift purchases and free national delivery to not only really to drive custom to our website, but to support my customers," Hellen explains.

"I offered local safe social distanced hand deliveries, personalised recommendations (via email and video chat) and made sure the deliveries were as efficient and personal as possible. I also made sure that I was as transparent as I could be; by utilising social media "stories" and "lives".

Hellen adds: "I could constantly show the safety measures I had in place working from home (I took all my shop stock home during the lockdown in order to quickly be able to wrap/answer queries) in order to make sure customers understood and trusted their purchases. There were a number of different delivery choices available for customers too."

Speaking about new initiatives developed during lockdown that she will continue to harness, Hellen says: "There are a few really positive trials that I started during the closure of the store that I am going to continue; the free gift wrapping and hand written card service - it makes such a difference to the customers to be able to purchase something with a lovely added surprise for the recipient.

"There are lots of interesting ways to link the website and the shop together is something I'm continuing to work on too, with ideas for new product videos, email and video consultations and also working on an app which should integrate scan, pay and go options for in store purchases.

"Of course running an independent business definitely has stressful and hard days, but being able to be so adaptable during a time that was never imaginable has been so liberating. I've never thought of myself particularly as a problem solver, but I think like most independent business owners - this has been one of the most testing times to adapt, pivot and change and think of new and innovative ways to connect with customers and keep the business going."

Enter your shop for the Best Small Shops Competition ‘Most Innovative Business During COVID-19' category here!

Small Stuff image credited to - ©G&AMedia

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