Why consumers should support independent retailers

The founder of a social enterprise which supports micro craft and design businesses is urging consumers to support independent retailers as part of a national campaign.
L-R Jennifer Duenas, Piers Edsall and Dawn Wood at Fabrication Crafts in LeedsL-R Jennifer Duenas, Piers Edsall and Dawn Wood at Fabrication Crafts in Leeds
L-R Jennifer Duenas, Piers Edsall and Dawn Wood at Fabrication Crafts in Leeds

Dawn Wood, founder of Fabrication Crafts, which has shops in Leeds and York city centres, said businesses like hers could only survive if people started shopping again.

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, she said: “It’s a strange dichotomy, really, because you don’t want people to come en masse to the city centre because it (the virus) has not gone away.

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“But there’s the capitalist edge which is a juxtaposition to health.

“But the simple fact of the matter is that unless you buy from us then we don’t survive. We can only pay the rent by people shopping.”

Over the weekend businesses around Yorkshire celebrated Independents Day, which is a national campaign to encourage spending with independent retailers all year round.

Independents make up around 65 per cent of retail outlets across the UK and many have been hit hard by the impact of Covid-19.

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During lockdown, Ms Wood set up an online shop and a click-and-collect service, which has been popular, but she admitted there were times when she didn’t know if the Fabrication Crafts shops would reopen.

“There were many sleepless nights just juggling,”.

Kate Hardcastle MBE, founder of Yorkshire retail consultancy Insight with Passion, said the smallest things can help independent businesses.

“Certainly, spending with them is the most helpful, but sharing their social media posts and leaving positive reviews and recommendations can all prove vital in helping them survive,” she said.

Support is available for independent businesses in Leeds, via the Leeds MicroBusiness Support Service, a free service supported by Leeds City Council, which offers mentoring, workshops and business advice to microbusinesses across a range of sectors.

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Writing in The Yorkshire Post, Ms Hardcastle recently highlighted the major role independent firms have played in helping local communities cope with the pandemic.

She said: “Some of the greatest acts of business generosity and altruism have been from the smallest of businesses.

“I am hopeful that one of the trends we will witness from all of this is more support and trade with the independent businesses that have rallied to make a difference.

“In the early days of the panic buying peak, many flocked to their local independent stores to be supplied with essentials such as toilet rolls, milk and pasta.

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“There are many stories of cafés that cooked up and donated meals to key workers, craft businesses that repurposed their fashion production line to one of face masks and boutique distilleries that ditched the gin in favour of hand sanitiser.

“Many of these organisations didn’t think twice in leaping to make a difference. They did so before many of the announcements from Chancellor Rishi Sunak about business support, not knowing what the outcome of the pandemic might mean for them.

“I certainly wasn’t surprised – I have been an admirer of the sheer hard work, determination and passion demonstrated by small business owners since I started in the world of work.”

Small Shop of 2020 competition

The Independent Retailers’ Confederation (IRC), a group representing more than 100,000 retailers across the UK, has announced a special category in its search to find Britain’s Best Small Shop of 2020.

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The judges will be seeking entries from independents that have used innovation to combat the impact of Covid-19 in a new award category.

Mark Walmsley, chair of the IRC, said: “We have witnessed and continue to see extraordinary examples of innovation and ingenuity.”

For more information about the Best Small Shops competition, visit https://www.indieretail.uk/best-small-shops/

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