Bira news

Shop shutters have finally been raised

Below: Andrew has been out and about visiting Bira members since shops have re-opened.

After a long, bleak winter in nationwide lockdown, we are back in business – hopefully, this time for good. As part of preparations for the reopening of so-called ‘non-essential’ retail, I accompanied Small Business Minister Paul Scully on a visit to indies in Stoke Newington, North London. It took place a week before April 12 – or ‘the glorious 12th’ – and it was to talk to retailers about the measures and efforts they were making to welcome back shoppers. First stop was card and giftware retailer and Bira member Heidi Early, who was preparing to reopen her shop Earlybird Designs. She explained how they had been closed for eight of the last 12 months and it had been ‘incredibly hard’. Her business had accepted the Government support including a Bounce Back Loan, a Local Restriction Grant, and the furlough scheme, but couldn’t wait to reopen, see customers, and start earning again. Heidi also showed us how she’s cleverly adapted her small store to help customers and staff feel safe complete. She’s installed Perspex screens, restricted capacity, signage to promote social distancing, and, of course, plenty of hand sanitiser. Minister Scully also visited jeweller and Bira member Roger Taylor of Metal Crumble, a nearby hairdresser, and then a pub in Mile End. It was an essential visit which helped to highlight how challenging the last 12 months have been for all types of independent retailer. It also demonstrated the efforts they are all making so customers feel safe as they shop – measures I know will be second nature now to all of you. What I hope Minister Scully took from day is that, while the Government support, has been greatly appreciated, it simply can’t stop there now shops are open again. Indie retailers need consistent support, financial and otherwise, for the foreseeable future. Footfall will take time to return to normal and there will be people who shopped online and won’t return to ‘bricks and mortar’ retail. Schemes such as shopping vouchers like the ones being issued in Northern Ireland, reduced or free town centre parking, and further reduced business rates are all ways in which we’d like the Government to go further. And so Bira will continue lobbying for the long game, to ensure the future of high streets so that we can remain in business – for good. If you would like to discuss any of this article with us, or would like to find out more about our association and the support we give independent retail business, then please contact our membership team on 0800 028 0245 or visit bira.co.uk

Andrew Goodacre, ceo, Bira

(British Independent Retailers' Association)

Above: Paul Scully cutting the ribbon on Earlybird Designs to proclaim the store open.

Roll out a voucher scheme

Bira has called for England, Wales and Scotland to follow the example set in Northern Ireland in issuing a shopping voucher to encourage high street spending. Every adult aged over 18 in Northern Ireland is eligible to apply for a £100 voucher to spend at ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers. The announcement coincided with the reopening of non-essential retail – including cookshops and housewares stockists – in Northern Ireland, with vouchers expected to be issued over the summer. Bira was swift to call for the other home nations to follow suit, with ceo Andrew Goodacre commenting: “This is an excellent scheme to increase spending in local communities and we would now like to see England, Scotland and Wales follow with a similar initiative.” He reflected: “Last summer, the hospitality industry had the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, now the independent retail sector needs the same support in a Shop Out to Help Out initiative.”

Say no to violence

Bira united with other retail organisations to call for the Government to take a tougher stance on violence and abuse towards shopworkers. As part of the ShopKind campaign, he coalition, which consists of more than 30 major retail businesses, has urged MPs to back an amendment to a flagship government crime bill which would offer frontline workers greater protection, and harsher penalties for anyone committing assaults on shopworkers. Major housewares stockists that are part of the coalition include Homebase, John Lewis, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Dixons Carphone, Morrisons and Tesco.

Restart grant delays

Above: The ShopKind campaign urges the public to act respectfully to retailers.

Speaking on behalf of many cookshop and housewares members, Bira expressed disappointment that many hard-hit retailers had not received the Restart Grant owed to them over one month from re-opening. The one-off grants of between £2,667 to £6,000, which were announced in the Budget in March, were made available to help ‘non-essential’ businesses reopen after lockdown ended on April 12. However, many members told Bira that the money – distributed by local authorities – had not been received in May. One such member informed the association that its local authority website pledged the money by the ‘end of April 2021’, but this was changed to ‘end of May 2021’. Andrew Goodacre, Bira ceo commented: “We are disappointed to hear from members that there are ongoing delays with the distribution of the Restart Grants. In our view these should have been with business owners before the shops opened.” He highlighted: “All the data is with the local authorities as this is not the first time grants have been sent to businesses and we urge all local authorities to re-double their efforts. Shops may be open, but the owners still need all the support that is owed to them.”