Cost-of-Living Crisis

Local shops help communities manage cost-of-living crisis

Research shows that more than half of shoppers believe local shops provide a convenient alternative to delivery apps.

Shoppers see local shops as part of the solution to manage their money in the cost-of-living-crisis, new research by the ACS reveals.

Key findings from the research include:

● 78% of consumers agree thatusing local shops is better forthe environment because theydon’t have to travel as far;

● 61% of shoppers believe that localshops help people save on multipletrips by providing a range ofdifferent services in one place;

● 57% of consumers agree thatlocal shops provide a convenientalternative to delivery apps likeDeliveroo or Uber Eats;

● 53% of shoppers think that buyinglittle and often helps them managefood waste.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is affecting everyone’s decisions day to day, with consumers looking for simple ways to manage their money.

Local shops are well placed to help their communities with the cost-ofliving crisis, not just through their convenient locations, but by helping people manage food waste, save fuel, and providing local access to services like ATM machines. Thousands of retailers also have relationships with food banks and discounted grocery apps like Gander and Too Good to Go, as well as promoting Healthy Start cards for healthy food and milk that is a huge help for young mothers.

“Local shops’ commitment to helping their communities through the costof-living crisis is despite the ongoing cost of trading crisis that they’re currently facing.

Retailers are reporting that they are doing everything they can to avoid putting prices up in the face of huge increases in energy costs, supply chain and delivery costs, insurance premiums and employment costs and instead are looking at every inch of their businesses to see where they can make small savings that will allow them to keep trading competitively.”