BIRA news and archive

Retailers call for ‘strong leadership’ from new PM amid cost of living crisis

UK retailers have called for “strong leadership” and “clarity” from Liz Truss who was announced today as the new prime minister. Truss defeated former chancellor Rishi Sunak to succeed Boris Johnson and become the new leader of the Conservative Party, winning 57 percent of votes from party members. She steps into the top job at a difficult time...

Business

Independents are feeling pressure to increase prices according to Bira study

A new report by the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has found that almost 88 percent of its members, made up of independent retailers, feel as though they are being forced to raise their prices once the anticipated jump in energy price comes into effect this autumn. The report is the result of a survey conducted by the...

Retail

Bira says UK Mother’s Day trading is to be its strongest in two years

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has predicted some good news for the high street, stating it believes retailers could expect the strongest Mother’s Day trading in over two years. Its report comes as physical stores begin to bounce back following the lifting of restrictions earlier this year. In a statement, the head of Bira,...

Retail

BIRA backs 'Shop Out to Help Out' scheme to save the High Street

From next week the UK is to allow fully vaccinated visitors from the European Union and United States to arrive without needing to quarantine, a huge boost for the retail, travel and tourist industries. BIRA, the British Independent Retailers Associations, is putting some weight behind the Shop Out to Help Out scheme, another retail boost,...

RetailFeatured

Bira shares “life after lockdown” strategy for retailers

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) chief executive Andrew Goodacre has shared his thoughts for a possible exit strategy for the retail industry calling for restrictions to be first lifted for smaller shops and businesses. In an open letter on the association’s website, Goodacre said: “When faced with the day-to-day problems of...

Retail

Independent retailers call for ‘details and transparency’ during UK lockdown

Small business owners affected by the UK’s lockdown are in need of immediate access to financial support, according to the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). On Monday evening prime minister Boris Johnson ordered all ‘non-essential’ stores to shut for three weeks in a big to slow the growth of the coronavirus. Under new measures,...

RetailFeatured

The UK remains a nation of shopkeepers

The UK is still a nation of shopkeepers, according to research from the Local Data Company (LDC) and British Independent Retailers Associations (Bira). Their findings show traditional independent retailers opened more shops than they closed in 2016 across Great Britain's 500 town centres. Whilst the national chains continued to see a fall,...

Fashion

Bira 2015 roadshow kicks off this week

The British Independent Retailers’ Association is taking to the road once again this summer, offering free events for retailers in towns across the UK. Kicking off in Wantage, Oxfordshire on July 9, the tour will highlight Bira’s services to help support, service and help independent retailers grow, such as pensions auto enrolment, business...

Fairs

Pure London celebrates leading independent retailers with new 'Best of British' awards

Pure London has teamed up with the Fashion Association of Britain (FAB) to launch the 'Best of British' award, which celebrate the best independent retailers across the UK and Ireland. “Independent retailers are the dynamic lifeblood of Pure London, representing almost 80 percent of our 11,000 strong audience each season,” commented Julie...

Design

Bira launches roadshow to help independent retailers

The British Independent Retailers Association is going on tour this summerto offer free advice and help to independent retailers as part of its new targeted awareness and support campaign. The roadshow will visit ten initial towns across the breadth of the UK including Shrewsbury, Bath, Leamington Spa, Harrogate, Aberdeen, and Tunbridge Wells,...

Design

Bira Bank records first 1 million pound turnover

Bira Bank, owned by the British Independent Retailers Association, has celebrated its first 1 million pound turnover month in March 2014, a 76 percent increase on March 2013. The bank, which provides a specialist service aimed at supporting and enabling independent retailers’ businesses to grow and develop, contributes the growth to a “surge” in...

Fashion

Fashion independents saw tough 2011

Despite the relentless shadow of gloom that has been hanging over retailers and businesses for the past year, the British Independent Retailers Association reported a strong, even unexpected, finish to 2011 for independents, with the exception of fashion retailers who saw falls in each quarter. The research figures saw the highest proportion of...