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

Are you summer ready? Get ahead of the curve!

We may only be in April but now’s the time for successful independent businesses   to plan for the summer ahead and stay ahead of the curve. With the final easing of restrictions and the high street enjoying the increase in footfall it’s now your chance to get ready and deliver the perfect experience for your customers this summer. Show your store the love - They say your eyes are the windows to your soul. Likewise, your retail window display is the canvas that paints the true picture of your b

A sense of place

When you think of places that you love – towns, cities, neighbourhoods, districts – what do you think of? Childhood memories might be aimed at a park, playing fields, or leisure centre. But maybe also a shop – one stocked with sweets perhaps – or a restaurant where you might be taken as a treat? As you grow up, your workplace begins to loom large (not always good memories😊) and so do the cafes and bars where you hung out with your workmates.  And what about the shop where you bought the fi

The future of independent retail?

Covid has turned everything on its head.  It is shaping retail through seismic changes in commuting, effectively re-locating vast communities from early morning to early evening, and through the long-term reassessment of rents.  But this blog isn’t about Covid, though it does shape the beginning of my story. In previous years I would often spend a couple of summer weeks somewhere with guaranteed sunshine, this summer I found myself in a drizzly British village. Having toured the village – 15 mi

The Return of Independent Retail

We asked Jeff Moody, Commercial Director of BIRA, what advice he has for independent retailers post lockdown in 2021. I’m looking forward to a vibrant and varied high street again. There’s a huge opportunity for indies now after the dramatic changes of the retail landscape in the past year. But to get to that point, we need to work through three key challenges. Firstly, payment methods have changed fundamentally and we’ve seen a massive move away from cash. Lots of insurance policies depend on

PUSH Cycles

2020 was a boom year for cycling. The pandemic drove an increase in demand for bicycles as people looked for a safe way to travel and exercise. Neighbourhoods were redesigned by councils to accommodate the rise in pedal traffic. Suppliers struggled to keep up with demand. Many bike shops have thrived in this time but others have closed due to supply chain problems. We spoke to PUSH Cycles in Hackney, north-east London. Owner Ciaran Carleton, told us about the perfect storm of last year and why

Plant One On Me

With 250 houseplants, accessories, home decor and gifts, Plant One On Me in Bradford is an oasis in the city centre. Owner Ursula Sutcliffe talks about her 2020, the rise of independent businesses in the city and the power of plants. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “I don't think we have ever worked so hard, mentally and physically. 2020 has just been unbelievable. In the north, it feels like we have had it bad going from lockdown into Tier 3 a

Helmsley Traditional Sweet Shop

Pear drops, cola cubes, flying saucers, chocolate covered limes, sherbet pips. This shop in North Yorkshire sells nostalgia and joy in striped paper bags. ----------------------- Helmsley Traditional Sweet Shop [https://www.helmsleysweets.co.uk/] has been open since 2013. Co-founder Lynn Hempsall said it was something she always wanted to do. "I grew up in York with three confectionary factories in smelling distance in the 1970s - Rowntree’s, Terry’s and Craven’s. In York, you either worked o

Dolcino

Selling home-made gelato and other specialities, this café in the centre of Loughborough has been operating since 2015. With a large student population and a steady flow of families and shoppers, it quickly became a firm favourite among locals and has been well established in the area ever since. However, 2020 has been a challenging year. The first lockdown forced Dolcino’s owners to reinvent their product offering to survive. In December we talked with owner Kirsten Arcadio. ------------------

Jules and Gems

Julie Ashton’s boutique sells jewellery and accessories. Unique and individual pieces are designed and handmade by Julie and other British designers. Everything is handmade in England and ethically / sustainably produced using recycled metals / materials and conflict-free gemstones. ---------------------------- Julie started her business from a market stall in Covent Garden, moved to Portobello Road and finally found a store workshop in Blue House Yard, Wood Green, north London. The site is ru

Treasure Chest Books

Proudly located in the centre of Felixstowe, Treasure Chest Books is East Anglia’s largest second-hand bookshop. It has been trading in the town since 1984. Co-owner Helen Bott shares the history of the shop and the ups and downs of 2020. ---------------------------- “We are a bricks and mortar bookshop, open five days a week. We have 60,000 books in stock, covering all subjects but specialising in transport (railways, shipping, buses, trams, motoring, aviation), military and local East Anglia

The Umbrella Cafe CIC

Based within a community centre in the heart of Whitstable, by the sea in East Kent, is The Umbrella Cafe. Launched at the end of 2015, the cafe became a community interest company in 2018. As well as a welcoming space for people to enjoy a coffee or lunch, it tackles food provision and social isolation through its social projects. ---------------------------- On a rainy day in October, we spoke to CEO, Joanna Verney. “Our café provides homecooked meals, hot and cold drinks and cakes baked by

Shop SE19

Crystal Palace, south London has an established community of independent shops and services. ShopSE19 was set up as a limited company in 2019 to support and promote them. The group evolved out of a team of independent local shops who organised a successful Christmas event and promotional campaign in 2018. They realised they needed to formalise the structure in order to get more from the network. ShopSE19 initially set up a membership system, in order to generate funds to pay local suppliers suc