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ACT parent company Bira warns of 'Atrocious April' as shop price inflation rises

1 Apr 2025

Bira has voiced serious concerns over the latest figures from the BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index for March 2025.
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ACT parent company Bira says Spring Statement fails to address high street crisis

26 Mar 2025

ACT parent company Bira has said the Chancellor's Spring Statement delivered today has failed to address the "perfect storm" of cost pressures facing independent retailers across the UK,... Read more…

ACT parent company Bira outlines key priorities ahead of Spring Budget

25 Mar 2025

ACT parent company Bira has outlined its key priorities ahead of the Chancellor's Spring Budget statement.
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Bristol-based cycling charity Life Cycle now offering Cytech training courses

20 Mar 2025

Cytech, the internationally recognised training and accreditation scheme for bicycle mechanics, have partnered with Bristol-based charity Life Cycle to offer a range of bicycle mechanic... Read more…

High street 'death knell' – indie retailers, including cycle shops, shutting doors ahead of April tax rises

12 Mar 2025

Towns and cities across Britain are already seeing a wave of closures as independent businesses shut their doors ahead of April’s triple tax burden, including those in the cycling retail... Read more…

Research shows UK businesses hiring more as consumer confidence lifts

5 Mar 2025

New research has revealed a recent uptick in UK consumer confidence, leading to increased hiring by businesses, with the retail sector responding positively to signs of economic resilience.
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Independent cycle shop becomes first retailer to stock new local bike brand

28 Feb 2025

Independent cycling retailer and ACT member Velo Fit has become the first to stock a new brand of bikes focused on combining quality and affordability.
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Bira cautiously welcomes new crime and policing bill to tackle retail crime across high street businesses

26 Feb 2025

ACT parent company Bira has cautiously welcomed Labour's Crime and Policing Bill but is calling for urgent action and immediate funding to address the surge in retail crime affecting independent... Read more…

Bira warns of 'troubled times ahead' despite interest rate cut

7 Feb 2025

ACT parent company Bira has warned that retailers across Britain face troubled times ahead despite today's Bank of England interest rate cut to 4.5%, as the Bank halves its growth forecast for... Read more…

Free webinar exclusive to ACT members on employment law compliance

4 Feb 2025

The ACT and legal partner WorkNest are hosting an exclusive webinar on how to remain compliant with employment law while making necessary business changes.
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House of Commons thanks greeting card company Bexy Boo for community support

Posted on in Business News

AGCA member of the The Greeting Card Association (GCA), Bexy Boo, has received a letter of thanks from the House of Commons for all the work she has done to support her home town of Knutsford.

The GCA are a member of the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC), a well-established organisation representing c.100,000 independent retailers throughout the UK. 

As the founder and creative maestro of card company Bexy Boo, Bex Hassett's focus is usually on creating lovely greeting cards that are posted to bring joy and support.

However recently, she was pleasantly surprised to receive a special piece of post, from a top address.
When Bex opened an envelope and spotted the House of Commons letterhead, she "honestly thought" that she "had done something wrong", but it was quite the opposite.

The letter was from Tatton MP Esther McVey thanking Bex for all the work she has done to support her home town of Knutsford.

In the first lockdown, Bex drew an illustration of people wrapping their arms around Knutsford High Street.

 

Esther McVey, MP from Tatton

Above: Esther McVey, MP from Tatton.

 

"The reaction was amazing with residents saying that they would like to purchase the artwork. So, in this last lockdown, I did the same and received the same incredible reaction," explains Bex.

Seeing it as an opportunity to support her local community, Bex collaborated with the town council and the local charity We are Knutsford to print and sell two drawings in a postcard format as well as A3 and A4 prints.

Bex’s illustrations champion supporting Knutsford retailers
Above: Bex's illustrations champion supporting Knutsford retailers.

All profits are being used to fund future town initiatives following the devastating effects of Covid to the High Street.

In the letter, Esther McVey congratulated Bex for her ‘brilliant illustrations'. She continued with her praise: ‘They are really great, and it's a good, practical way to support Knutsford. I know they will sell really well and they will help fund initiatives to drive people back to our town to ensure it stays vibrant and a good place to visit.'

 

Some of the local press coverage about the postcards and prints


Above: Some of the local press coverage about the postcards and prints.

The local press also picked up on the story, hailing the talents of their local community-spirited artist.

 

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