Independent Retailer

Bucktons launches new superior suet balls for wild birds

Pet specialist brand, Bucktons, has launched a new variety of its best-selling energy balls. As we head into winter, this new addition to the range is perfect timing as they look to support independent retailers preparing for the seasonal sales spike. The new Bucktons 160 Superior Suet Balls, with its…

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Henry Bell secures one year contract with FMG

Pet, wild bird food and accessories producer, Henry Bell has secured a one-year contract with independent garden centre group, Future Marketing Group (FMG).  The deal which was completed in November 2020 has allowed for the company to be the primary supplier of wild bird care for FMG’s 20 UK garden…

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Retailers pay £1.1bn to accept customer payments

The cost to retailers of accepting payments reached £1.1bn in 2019, of which £950m was from card payments. It comes as the BRC launched its latest Payment Survey, that reveals card use has continued to rise steadily, from 54% of transactions in 2016 to 61% in 2019.  This trend has…

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The future of pet retailing

Following a survey of our members, we have a clear picture of the impact of Covid-19 on the pet food industry to this point. Initially, sales in pet food peaked. People were stockpiling other essential items, and this was extended to pet food. This was followed by a small trough…

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Extra support needed for retailers to meet rent demands, says Bira

“Positive action” is needed to help retail businesses meet rent demands as they continue to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said. It comes as the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) proposed for a Property Bounceback Grant, after exclusive research revealed independent retailers were concerned…

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PATS New Product Awards to go ahead

Organisers of PATS Telford have announced that its New Product Awards will go ahead this year, despite the cancellation of PATS Telford that was due to take place this September. The awards provide an opportunity for suppliers and manufacturers to showcase new launches to retailers and buyers across the UK.…

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Bira urges PM to ‘give us back our high streets’

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to intervene and “give us back our high streets”. In an exclusive Bira survey, three quarters (75%) of independent retailers said trade is being “detrimentally impacted” by lockdown road closures. The survey revealed that two thirds (66.1%)…

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Bira backs plans for tougher shoplifting penalties

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has welcomed government plans to take a tougher stance on shoplifting. Home Secretary Priti Patel recently announced the Government would be writing to police chiefs to advise that shoplifters stealing items to the value of £200 should be prosecuted. The decision follows a major…

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Bestpets named ‘wholesaler of the year’

Bestpets has been voted “wholesaler of the year” in the Pet Product Marketing Retailer Recommended Awards 2020, for the second consecutive year. The voting was open for a month supported by a campaign in Pet Product Marketing magazine as well as online channels.  In addition, Bestpets previously claimed victory at…

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Bira ‘disappointed’ mini-budget does ‘not help indie retailers’

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has expressed its “disappointment” that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s mini-budget does not “directly help retail business owners”. Sunak announced a raft of further measures to support the recovery of the economy following the coronavirus lockdown, in Parliament yesterday (8 July). Features of the budget included…

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