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Budleigh traders launch campaign to attract more shoppers.

9 Oct 2023

A group of independent traders in Budleigh Salterton have started a campaign to attract more shoppers.
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Tech could drive more business for indie retailers this Christmas

9 Oct 2023

New research from Square and Clearpay indicates consumer confidence is rising, with 72% of consumers planning to spend more or the same this coming holiday season compared to last year,... Read more…

Full line-up announced for 2023 Bookshop Day this Saturday.

9 Oct 2023

Miriam Margolyes, Richard Armitage and Tomi Oyemakinde will be among the authors headlining events at this year’s Bookshop Day taking place this Saturday 14th October.
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Shop owners demand new offence for attacks on retail workers

4 Oct 2023

Shop owners have called on the Home Secretary to specifically outlaw attacks on retail workers.
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Are you up to speed with new ban on single-use plastics?

4 Oct 2023

From the start of October, bans and restrictions on single-use plastic cutlery, polystyrene cups and food containers, single-use balloon sticks and certain types of polystyrene cups and... Read more…

Cash still crucial for UK’s independent retailers

27 Sep 2023

A recent survey of retailers across the UK has shown that cash remains a crucial payment method for independent shops.
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Almost 2,000 more independent shops left empty in the first half of this year

27 Sep 2023

Almost 2,000 more British independent shops were left empty in the first half of this year, as small businesses struggled to cope with rising inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.
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Indie shops in Liverpool create their own security network to combat shoplifters.

27 Sep 2023

An independent shop owner in Liverpool has said that independent shops in the city centre have taken to creating their own security WhatsApp group, warning each other of shoplifters in the... Read more…

Indie shops key to reversing fortunes of struggling high streets – university study finds.

27 Sep 2023

A focus on independent and ‘browse-only’ shops can help to reverse the fortunes of the struggling high street, according to an extensive study by Manchester Metropolitan University.
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Trade association welcomes Home Office ‘back-to-basics’ retail crime promise

13 Sep 2023

The recent pledge by police forces across England and Wales to pursue every lead that holds a reasonable chance of apprehending criminals and solving crimes has been welcomed by Bira, which... Read more…

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Is the ‘death of the high street' being overstated?

Posted on in Business News

According to a recent article published in The Telegraph, the ‘death of the high street' may be overstated, with evidence showing that independent shops are booming across the UK.

Whilst there has been a number of large well-known retailers that have recently disappeared from the high street, including Toys 'R' Us, Maplin, Staples, BHS and more, a recent study shows that the retail giants have been replaced by small shops.

Almost 1.5 million Ordnance Survey (OS) business records were analysed by the consumer champion to compare how Britain's retail and services landscape has changed from 2014 to 2019.

The results showed that many high streets are beginning to move towards services that cannot be replicated online. Of the 10 sectors that have seen an increase in premises on UK high streets, six are categorised as 'eating out and services', with the biggest increase since 2014 seen in banqueting and function rooms with over 100%.

This was followed by markets, listed as "food, drink and multi-item retail" services, which saw an increase of over 50% in the last 5 years.

Tattooing and piercing parlours increased their presence on the high street by 44%; cafés, snack bars and tea rooms by 35%; and hair and beauty services by 31%.

Harry Rose, Editor, Which? magazine, said: "While it's concerning to have seen so many well-loved brands disappear from UK high streets in recent years, our research suggests the future of our town centres is not necessarily as bleak as the reports of store closures would have you believe.

"As shoppers needs and habits evolve, it's vital that businesses keep up with these changing trends and consider how they can grow with them, in order to continue thriving on the high street."

Initatives such as the Best Small Shops competition help to raise awareness of high street shops that are both product and service based and thus helping the high street to thrive even as the landscape continues to change.

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