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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 retailers doubt Liz Truss will help the high street

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

New research from Ankorstore, an online B2B platform that connects brands and shops in Europe, has shown that independent retailers are relying on the support of local shoppers, rather than the government, to keep them afloat.

The research featured 4,000 respondents made up of 2,000 nationally representative UK consumers and 2,000 UK SME business owners in retail.

Liz Truss

Whilst 69% of the latter felt optimistic that consumers would continue to support their shop, despite the cost-of-living crisis, fewer have faith that the government will positively support independent retailers and high streets (44%).

Gen Z independent retail owners are the most optimistic and hopeful that the new Prime Minister will have a positive impact when it comes to supporting local high streets and independent retailers, with 61% believing the new leader will have a positive impact.

This steadily decreases with age: 52% of 35-44s, 25% of 45-54s and just 17% of over 55s believe the same.

85% of independent retailers are also calling on the government to cut business rates to preserve British high streets, with that figure rising to 90% for those who only have physical stores.

86% of UK consumers have already noticed an increase in the number of empty shops on their local high streets, and three quarters agree that the government should provide more support for independent retailers and shops.

Tarun Gidoomal, UK General Manager at Ankorstore, comments: “Our research confirms the harsh reality that the majority of small businesses do not predict that they will survive the extraordinary pressures that they are currently facing.”

“As a business that champions and supports independent retailers all over Europe, we hope this research serves as a wakeup call to the UK government. Inaction is simply not an option at such a pivotal time for independents.”

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