Is it me or is the local, independent business staging a comeback?
A wander down North Street near where I live in Bristol this weekend threw up some truly independent gems – a shoe shop, a butchers, a jewellers, a greetings card shop, an independent brewer, a bakers – all it needs is a candlestick maker and it would have been like a scene from the 19th century.
I popped into the card store which as well as some unusual cards you just don't see in the likes of Clintons or Hallmark there were a whole host of nick nacks on offer. Similarly, the jewellery business round the corner was packed with strange and obscure pieces you wouldn't get over the counter at H Samuel. And shock horror, the owner behind the counter was more than willing to have a chat.
The long awaited report released recently by the Competition Commission tells us that small businesses are not suffering at the hands of the UK's supermarket giants. SME lobby groups – and me for that matter - were after 18 months of waiting disgusted at the Commission's conclusion. "Small independent retailers are closing at a rate of 2,000 per year and you've only got to walk down your local high street to see the evidence," proclaimed Clive Davenport from the Federation of Small Businesses.
So why is North Street in Bristol bucking the trend? It's no coincidence that the area is thriving with small businesses which are not part of large, corporate chains. The reason is because people are demanding something different away from the samey chains and the local council clearly supports their demands.
A few roads up on East Street, the area is packed with familiar names you can see almost anywhere in the UK – Argos, Woolworths, Asda. Yet, walk down North Street and despite the local Budgens, Threshers and a couple of banks most of the stores appear to be independent.
Maybe that's the answer to the march of the corporate giants. Create specific areas within each and every city and town in the UK where only independent companies are allowed to open. North Street has managed to encourage lots of independent businesses in one area so why can't others? Yes, the 24-hour Asda round the corner stocks everything I could possibly need but popping into the bakers, grocers and gift shops on North Street and having a chat to the entrepreneur behind the counter is a so much more pleasurable experience.
A wander down North Street near where I live in Bristol this weekend threw up some truly independent gems – a shoe shop, a butchers, a jewellers, a greetings card shop, an independent brewer, a bakers – all it needs is a candlestick maker and it would have been like a scene from the 19th century.
I popped into the card store which as well as some unusual cards you just don't see in the likes of Clintons or Hallmark there were a whole host of nick nacks on offer. Similarly, the jewellery business round the corner was packed with strange and obscure pieces you wouldn't get over the counter at H Samuel. And shock horror, the owner behind the counter was more than willing to have a chat.
The long awaited report released recently by the Competition Commission tells us that small businesses are not suffering at the hands of the UK's supermarket giants. SME lobby groups – and me for that matter - were after 18 months of waiting disgusted at the Commission's conclusion. "Small independent retailers are closing at a rate of 2,000 per year and you've only got to walk down your local high street to see the evidence," proclaimed Clive Davenport from the Federation of Small Businesses.
So why is North Street in Bristol bucking the trend? It's no coincidence that the area is thriving with small businesses which are not part of large, corporate chains. The reason is because people are demanding something different away from the samey chains and the local council clearly supports their demands.
A few roads up on East Street, the area is packed with familiar names you can see almost anywhere in the UK – Argos, Woolworths, Asda. Yet, walk down North Street and despite the local Budgens, Threshers and a couple of banks most of the stores appear to be independent.
Maybe that's the answer to the march of the corporate giants. Create specific areas within each and every city and town in the UK where only independent companies are allowed to open. North Street has managed to encourage lots of independent businesses in one area so why can't others? Yes, the 24-hour Asda round the corner stocks everything I could possibly need but popping into the bakers, grocers and gift shops on North Street and having a chat to the entrepreneur behind the counter is a so much more pleasurable experience.
