{$inpagemarkup}

Search News

Results: 71-80 of 690


UK bike sales hit 20-year low but long-term outlook remains positive

22 Feb 2023

The Annual Market Data Report for 2022 from The Bicycle Association (BA) reports annual cycle sales in the UK fell to 1.88 million units in 2022, a 20-year low, 27% below pre-COVID levels in... Read more…

Nottingham revealed as UK’s best spot for homebuyers who want a thriving indie retail scene

13 Feb 2023

New research by estate agent comparison site, GetAgent.co.uk, has analysed the number of independent shops found across 15 major UK cities to find which presented the most independent retail... Read more…

New data reveals the most and least expensive retail rental areas in the UK

13 Feb 2023

New data from insolvency specialists Real Business Rescue, which analysed current commercial retail listings to find the most and least expensive areas in the UK for business owners to open... Read more…

Tackling retail crime a priority, says Policing Minister

13 Feb 2023

The Policing Minister Chris Philp has said that tackling retail crime is a priority.
Read more…

The 1975 named as ambassadors for this year’s Record Store Day

13 Feb 2023

Record Store Day has unveiled indie rock band The 1975 as this year’s RSD ambassadors.
Read more…

Bike prices predicted to fall in 2023 due to excess stock, but not across the board

6 Feb 2023

Predictions of a slowdown in demand for bikes may contribute to an industry-wide decrease in prices, with the Bicycle Association reporting UK bike sales down by a quarter against Covid levels.
Read more…

Nearly two thirds of consumers committed to sustainability despite cost-of-living pressures

2 Feb 2023

A new report from Shopify has shown that sustainability conscious shopping is on the rise. Consumer interest in green products has remained robust, despite inflation and other economic... Read more…

Shop price inflation hits record heights & peak is yet to arrive

2 Feb 2023

Shop prices have reached record highs after inflation accelerated in January, with a warning that the peak is yet to arrive.
Read more…

Proposed deposit return scheme could put strain on indie retailers

2 Feb 2023

A new deposit return scheme announced by the Government to make it easier for people to recycle plastic bottles and drink cans will put a strain on independent retailers, according to industry... Read more…

Shop occupancy rates improve despite cost-of-living crisis

30 Jan 2023

The number of shops lying vacant on British high streets fell during the final three months of 2022, despite pressure on both companies and consumers from the rising cost of living.
Read more…

Back to news menu

Mary Portas warns government to act now or see half of high street shops shut

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement this week, retail expert Mary Portas called on the Government to rethink business rates and VAT to help struggling retailers.

She said: “Put simply we could lose half of all shops. We need to look at the systems they are currently working under, because they are not fit for purpose for the future.

Row of Bikes

“So VAT, business rates, all of it needs to be looked at. We need to look at the bigger picture and how people want, and need to live, in the future – for the good of themselves and the planet.”

In 2011, she published a report stating the aim was to “put the heart back into the centre of our high streets, calling on the authorities to re-imagine them “as destinations for socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning.” But she says nothing has changed in the past decade and without more support thousands of small shops will be lost during the cost-of-living crisis.

“It’s no different now to 11 years ago when I brought out my report,” she says. “As for big business and governments, people don’t trust them, they’ve had enough. We want what’s local, what’s safe and what we can trust.”

She added: “What’s inspiring, but at the same time frustrating, is everything I wrote in my report more than a decade ago, about how important high streets are to our society and our daily lives, is the same.

“They’re more important than what is being sold to us. People, particularly post-Covid, realise how important they are to their wellbeing and how they live. Having thriving high streets we can walk or cycle to for our daily needs is vital to our future.”

She praised “incredible independents” which make up 90% of high street businesses but admitted frustration because “all we talk about are big businesses”.

She said: “Small businesses have been hugely successful, and we need them to succeed. When it comes to budgets and government spending, I believe it needs to be about prioritising. And I happen to think we should prioritise the wellbeing of society.”

Back to news menu

Useful links

If you have any other queries please contact us.