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1 Apr 2025

Bira has voiced serious concerns over the latest figures from the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index for March 2025.

26 Mar 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said the Chancellor's Spring Statement delivered today has failed to address the "perfect storm" of cost pressures facing independent retailers across the UK,...

25 Mar 2025

ACT parent company Bira has outlined its key priorities ahead of the Chancellor's Spring Budget statement.

24 Mar 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has delivered a five-day bespoke training course to help Metropolitan Police officers to crack down on illegal e-bikes.

21 Mar 2025

UK cycle industry trade bodies the Bicycle Association (BA) and Association of Cycle Traders (ACT) have issued a joint message to cycle retailers who may be considering fitting e-bike conversion...

20 Mar 2025

Businesses and individuals that have signed up to the E-Bike Positive retailer safety pledge are urged by the ACT share pictures of the in-store campaign assets in action with the association.

20 Mar 2025

Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle mechanics, have partnered with Bristol-based charity Life Cycle to offer a range of bicycle mechanic...

19 Mar 2025

A lot of cycling retailers would consider managing inventory the most crucial aspect of running a shop, investing significant effort and time into keeping on top of stock. However, high street...

19 Mar 2025

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has translated its e-bike and e-scooter safety guidance videos into multiple languages to improve accessibility for delivery riders and other...

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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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