Expression Blog

Community counts, now more than ever. So here is a collection of stories, tips and insights from fellow great independents. Do get in touch if you have a story you'd like to share

Making every penny count for the resilient high street business owner

“Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.” Denis Waitley As the cost-of-living crisis hits, adding to the pressures the high street is already facing, businesses across the UK are feeling the pinch. With the rise in energy costs and food prices, petrol and diesel hitting record highs, it has never been more important for the independent business owner, crucial to our economy, to review and compare their insurance

Business Love Stories - Lost In The Lanes

Lost in the Lanes is a welcoming, contemporary and comfortable spot in one of the twisty-turny alleyways that make up Brighton’s historic Lanes. Opened in 2017, it is owned and operated by Natalie Demitriou. There is floor to ceiling windows and antique mirrors which drench the interior with light and sunshine, all the better for you to appreciate the feast laid out before you; Your traditional yet exceptional Full English, toasted banana bread with miso butter and honeycomb. Or beetroot cured c

Business Love Stories - Kernel of Hove

It is one of the hottest days of the year on one of the busiest roads in Hove, and sweltering passersby seek sanctuary and an organic strawberry ice lolly in Kernel of Hove’s small but cool interior. A large fan at the back of the shop is trying its level best to send a cooling breeze all the way to the front, setting a string of bunting all of a flutter as it wafts past and over the tops of shelves, boxes and baskets stuffed to the gunnels with delicious things. Teas for every requirement and l

Fall back in love with your business

The driving force behind happiness and success is passion, and “nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel All healthy relationships are, in one way or another, based on love and the course of true love never runs smoothly both in your private and work life. The truth is, personal relationships are a lot like business relationships, and maintaining both take thought, time and effort.  As a small business owner there will be times when y

What are the biggest challenges the Independent High Street sector faces right now?

The summer of 1967 saw the birth of a revolutionary new movement with an emphasis on sharing and the community, this phenomenon is better known as “The Summer of Love” and it changed the world we live in, to this day. There is no denying since 1967, UK high streets have endured challenging times, most recently according to retail analysts Springboard [https://spring-board.info/] rail strikes that have contributed to the reduction of footfall by 27% for London and a 11.2% decrease of visitor’s n

Protecting your business against the cost of living crisis & increased theft

Theft proofing for the independent business owner has never been more important. As the cost of living takes holds and theft from the high street increases “first-time shoplifters” are on the rise in addition to the “usual suspects”. Whether a shop, café, restaurant or bakery, all are suffering the effects of rising petty crime made harder due to pandemic recovery. As detailed in the British Retail Consortium [https://brc.org.uk/media/677737/brc-crime-survey-2021.pdf] the cost of crime rose to

Managing your to-do list as a small business owner

Tips on how to make the most of a busy schedule and use an effective to do list as a busy independent business owner.

Love your business? Love your customers

“Just having satisfied customers isn’t good enough anymore. If you really want a booming business, you have to create raving fans." - Ken Blanchard [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Blanchard] During the recent unsettled times where uncertainty, sadness and disappointment ruled, my recent airport pick up trip gave me the opportunity to think. While I endured the normal wait at arrivals, I watched the steady stream of returning passengers and was transported back to the film Love Actually. The

Taking stock of your seasonal increase

Planning the year ahead is crucial for an independent business and within the retail calendar there are key moments/ holidays such as Easter, Valentines, Halloween, Mothers/Father’s Day where regular shopping habits change and activity increases. One of the busiest seasonal peaks between October & December is known as the ‘The Golden Quarter’ –which can for some retailers account for up to 80% of annual sales. During any of these seasonal swings business owners must plan the level of stock requi

Business Insurance - what is it, why do I need it, what do I need and do I have enough?

It's no secret, business insurance is often seen as incredibly uninteresting, associated with negative connotations of spending money, theft, property damage and accidents. However, it IS required by anyone who owns or runs a business with the exceptions of sole trader. It is also actually incredibly important to support good safe growth. A crucial foundation for any independent business that luckily (and hopefully!) you only need to think about once a year, at time of renewal. 💡“No one can pr

A guide to the Pavement Licence for the independent hospitality sector

Covid has reshaped the hospitality landscape as we knew it and many of those changes have not been positive, however, one opportunity that COVID has presented to independent hospitality is the extended Pavement licence [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pavement-licences-draft-guidance/draft-guidance-pavement-licences-outdoor-seating-proposal] . The opportunity to increase footfall and revenue through the use of outside areas. How we used to “dine out” In previous years we would enjoy

Sustainability tips for small businesses

Sustainability is the latest “hot topic” within business. How do business owners and their businesses impact the environment and society? As a business owner how can you make positive changes in order to grow whilst still benefiting the environment and community? It’s a big topic, so where do you start and what are the benefits? We have outlined below our suggestions of things you can be thinking about now as an independent business to start applying more sustainable thinking into your strateg