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Last chance to sign up for the ACT free bronze subscription

27 Jul 2020

This is the last week to sign up for the ACT's charity appeal bronze subscription raising money for the National Emergencies Trust (NET)!
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#BikeIsBest launches public petition to support cycling infrastructure

23 Jul 2020

#BikeIsBest is calling on the UK public to sign and share thepetition, make your voice heard and help to show local authorities there's significant unmet demand for safe cycling... Read more…

HM Treasury fundamental review of business rates: call for evidence

21 Jul 2020

This call for evidence seeks views on how the business rates system currently works, issues to be addressed, ideas for change and a number of alternative taxes.
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Inquiry launched examining how high streets can survive the economic and social effects of Covid-19

21 Jul 2020

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has announced a new inquiry to examine how high streets can survive the economic and social consequences of Covid-19.
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Thinking of You Week coming this September

21 Jul 2020

Thinking of You Week is a special week that harnesses the emotional power of greeting cards to create a wave of love, caring and happiness.
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Small Stuff named as one of Best Small Shops Innovators

21 Jul 2020

Hellen from Small Stuff,an eco-conscious children's lifestyle shop in Sheffield, talks about how the forced closure of her bricks and mortar shop led to her thinking of new and innovative... Read more…

Best Small Shops names Rides on Air as a COVID-19 Innovator

16 Jul 2020

In the second of our ‘Meet the Innovators' series, exploring independent retailers that have excelled during the Covid crisis, we spoke with Paul Lynn, Director of cycle shop, Rides on... Read more…

#BikeIsBest to enter next stage of campaign

16 Jul 2020

The next phase will involve helping local authorities to feel confident in implementing new cycling measures and making it clear on the national narrative that there is a large unmet demand... Read more…

Inform your customers of the new law with the Indie Retail Face Covering Poster

16 Jul 2020

Following government announcement that wearing a face covering will become mandatory in shops in England from 24 July Indie Retail has created a Face Covering Poster for shops to display outside... Read more…

The latest Government announcements on the UK's EU exit

15 Jul 2020

The Government have recently made a number of announcements on their plans for the UK's EU exit on December 31st 2020 when the transition period ends.
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Small Stuff named as one of Best Small Shops Innovators

Posted on in Business News, Cycles News

In the thirSmall Stuffd instalment of our ‘Meet the Innovators' series, we spoke to Hellen from Small Stuff, an eco-conscious children's lifestyle shop in Sheffield about how the forced closure of her bricks and mortar shop led to her thinking of new and innovative ways to connect with customers.

"I already had a basic online store, but spent the first week making sure products were up to date, giving options such as free local hand-delivery to our local community, free gift wrapping and hand written card services for lockdown birthdays and gift purchases and free national delivery to not only really to drive custom to our website, but to support my customers," Hellen explains.

"I offered local safe social distanced hand deliveries, personalised recommendations (via email and video chat) and made sure the deliveries were as efficient and personal as possible. I also made sure that I was as transparent as I could be; by utilising social media "stories" and "lives".

Hellen adds: "I could constantly show the safety measures I had in place working from home (I took all my shop stock home during the lockdown in order to quickly be able to wrap/answer queries) in order to make sure customers understood and trusted their purchases. There were a number of different delivery choices available for customers too."

Speaking about new initiatives developed during lockdown that she will continue to harness, Hellen says: "There are a few really positive trials that I started during the closure of the store that I am going to continue; the free gift wrapping and hand written card service - it makes such a difference to the customers to be able to purchase something with a lovely added surprise for the recipient.

"There are lots of interesting ways to link the website and the shop together is something I'm continuing to work on too, with ideas for new product videos, email and video consultations and also working on an app which should integrate scan, pay and go options for in store purchases.

"Of course running an independent business definitely has stressful and hard days, but being able to be so adaptable during a time that was never imaginable has been so liberating. I've never thought of myself particularly as a problem solver, but I think like most independent business owners - this has been one of the most testing times to adapt, pivot and change and think of new and innovative ways to connect with customers and keep the business going."

Enter your shop for the Best Small Shops Competition ‘Most Innovative Business During COVID-19' category here!

Small Stuff image credited to - ©G&AMedia

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