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Best Small Shops' "Meet the Innovators" series kicks off with Jacobs the Jewellers following their successful reopening

15 Jul 2020

Our ‘Meet the Innovators' series will highlight some of the small shops that did something special during this difficult time, starting with Jacobs the Jewellers, who are based in Reading.... Read more…

IRC creates Independent Retailers Rent Survey

15 Jul 2020

Complete the survey now to help inform our lobbying with Government, provide us with an idea of what is happening across the market and bringsome much needed media attention to the plight of... Read more…

Government funding announcement perfectly timed with ACA new apprenticeship standard launch

9 Jul 2020

With the additional Government funding and Activate Cycle Academy's launch of a brand new apprenticeship standard for bicycle mechanics there has never been a better time to take on an... Read more…

CMA's Digital Markets Taskforce call launched

8 Jul 2020

The Competition and Markets Authority is leading a Digital Markets Taskforce to provide advice to the Government on the potential design and implementation of pro-competitive measures for... Read more…

Mental health in independent retail

8 Jul 2020

Coronavirus is clearly having a huge impact on retail workers but one ofthe impacts that is often overlooked is its effect on the mental wellbeing of those working in our stores.
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Government Response Call for Evidence on Violence and Abuse towards shop staff

7 Jul 2020

The Government has now published its response to the Call for Evidence on Violence and Abuse towards shop staff which closed in June 2019.
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Best Small Shops competition 2020 relaunched with new COVID-19 innovation category

2 Jul 2020

Innovative indie retailers who adapt their business to combat the impact of Covid-19 are to be recognised in a special category in Britain's Best Small Shops competition 2020
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Business and Planning Bill published in the House of Commons

2 Jul 2020

The Government has published the Business and Planning Bill in the Houseof Commons designed to make provision relating to the promotion of economic recovery and growth.
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The Maybe* 2020 Retail Report investigating what shoppers want

1 Jul 2020

To gauge the intentions of the British public, Maybe* has gathered 20,000 answers from regions across the UK to understand if and when they'll return to the shops, and what their concerns... Read more…

The continued effects of lockdown on UK shoppers

24 Jun 2020

Recent research has investigated how consumer behaviour has developed over the past few months as people have adapted their shopping styles tothe lockdown
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Best Small Shops' "Meet the Innovators" series kicks off with Jacobs the Jewellers following their successful reopening

Posted on in Business News

This year's Best Jacobs the jewellersSmall Shops competition will see the addition of a special new category celebrating small retailers that overcame adversity in the form of the COVID-19 crisis and innovated during lockdown, or prepared their business for life as restrictions have loosened.

Our ‘Meet the Innovators' series will highlight some of the small shops that did something special during this difficult time, starting with Jacobs the Jewellers, who are based in Reading.

Jacobs were visited by Alok Sharma MP, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Industry - after being recognised locally for setting a great example as a business successfully reopening following lockdown. We spoke to Adam Jacobs of Jacobs about his lockdown experience.

"During lockdown we emphasised our online abilities more heavily than before, putting phone consultations, online chats and video consultations if requested, at the centre of the online buying process.

"Our type of jewellery and watches have always required explanation and supporting assistance so by altering our website to promote this we dramatically improved our online sales.

"A new online appointment booking service embedded in our website was also introduced pre-opening. This smoothed customer flow and allowed personal selection of visiting times to suit.

"This has been enthusiastically picked up and is very popular, with 109 appointments being made in under 3 weeks for both repairs and new sales consultations. We'll definitely keep this on in conjunction with our National Association of Jewellers StoreSafe Covid-19 protocols."

Speaking about what he and has colleagues learned about the business during lockdown, Adam added: "We learned that we can be imaginative, creative, positive and resilient. We have a strong team dynamic and we bonded further with regular, weekly lockdown communications.

"Independents have a uniquely open and giving support structure almost hardwired in their DNA - that's what makes us special."

Enter your shop in the Best Small Shops Competition ‘Most Innovative Business During COVID-19' category here: bestsmallshops.uk/enter-now/.

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