32 The challenges of the past few years, from the aftermath of the pandemic to ongoing economic uncertainty and the rising costof-living, have made the UK’s independent retailers more resilient and adaptable than ever before. And while some measures of UK consumer sentiment are showing a positive improvement as we head into 2025, there will undoubtedly be more challenges and changes for small retail businesses to navigate over the coming year. But this could also provide new opportunities if shop owners are prepared to embrace new tools, trends and cultural changes, covering everything from the continuing rise of AI and new shifts in online and offline spending, to more adjustments in the way we work. Here’s how retailers can make sure they are ready to rise to the occasion. CLICKS TO BRICKS AS SHOPPERS WILL REDISCOVER THE JOY OF IN-STORE SHOPPING We heard John Lewis’s former chairman Dame Sharon White explain earlier this year that its online sales have steadily been declining since the pandemic in favour of physical spending. And it resonated because the return of more in-person shopping is something we’re also hearing from the small retailers Faire works with as shoppers get back into the habit of going into stores and businesses work even harder to get people through their doors. E-commerce is undoubtedly shifting the shopping landscape all the time, but it is also helping to drive a growing demand for more personal, and meaningful shopping experiences that can’t be found online, however hard you look. Independent retailers are perfectly positioned here thanks to their closer links with their communities, stronger relationships with customers and more unique products and experiences. Faire even helps our retailers secure exclusivity in their postcodes because we know how important this differentiation can be. But ensuring they’re ready for increasing footfall is also going to be crucial if they want to truly utilise this trend. Nothing is more frustrating, or more likely to drive them back online, than an empty shelf or missing options. RETAILERS WILL BECOME THEIR BEST INFLUENCERS One of the most unique things about independent retailers is the people behind them, and as shop owners seek to build stronger relationships with their customers over the next year, I think we’ll see more of them prepared to show their faces and share their stories to create closer connections. This is important for shoppers who increasingly want to know the person and the story behind the brand before they part with their cash. Often it can be as much about the shop owner as it is their product when it comes to spending money. But it can be daunting for busy retailers who are more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. Kate, the owner of Happy & Glorious in Canterbury, is a brilliant example of a small shop owner putting herself and more of her personality out there for the first time this year, with weekly Instagram lives where she talks through her store and her product ranges. This is something that can be tricky to start, but it’s certainly having an impact on her customer engagement, relationships and sales. I’ve always said that independent retailers are the original influencers, and more and more are now putting this into practice by embracing social media and in-store events. Customers are drawn to authenticity, and it’s these real connections that will make all the difference going into 2025. WHERE WE WORK WILL CHANGE HOW WE SHOP There’s no denying that a rise in remote working has impacted how we see our local high streets and shops, with many of Future focus Charlotte Broadbent, General UK Manager at Faire, the online wholesale marketplace, shares her 2025 retail prediction pieces
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