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2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

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...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

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.

16 Jun 2025

The ACT has welcomed the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking's report "Unregulated and Unsafe: The Threat of Illegal E-Bikes", which calls for urgent Government action to...

11 Jun 2025

A new academic study has found that overzealous pro-cycling campaigners on social media may be inadvertently damaging the case for better cycling infrastructure across the UK.

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...

10 Jun 2025

Bike thefts across England and Wales have continued their steady decline, according to new data released by cycle insurance specialist Bikmo.

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...

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Indie retail sector growing as more chains face closures

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Creative News, Outdoor News

As multiple stores like New Look, Maplin and Toys ‘R' Us close, a study by OnBuy.com has found that this has led to a rapid increase in the number of independent retailers.

The study has found that independent store openings have grown in all but two regions of the UK as chains continue to face a general decline.

The North West, West Midlands and Scotland had the highest rate of independent store openings in UK in 2017 - with 230, 194 and 114 independent openings respectively. The only regions to have not experienced growth in independent store openings were the East and South West, which recorded 19 and 29 closures respectively.

In comparison, according to the study multiple stores (with more than five stores nationally) saw closures in every region, except Yorkshire.

The study found that barbers, beauty salons, cafes and tearooms, convenience stores and tobacconists/vaping shops are succeeding in the current climate, whilst pubs, women's clothing, newsagents, bookmakers and shoe shops are suffering.

onBuy store closures map

https://www.onbuy.com/gb/ 

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