Stat: UK shoppers are prioritising local businesses

With more UK citizens prioritising their local neighbourhoods and communities, many are opting to shop at independent businesses. Indeed, research by Simply Business shows that nearly nine in 10 (88%) of UK consumers prefer to shop at small, local or independent businesses rather than larger chains, or a mixture of small businesses together with larger chains.

In terms of their reasons, 41% said they liked being able to see that their money has a direct impact, while 39% said service is better with small and independent businesses. Meanwhile, the research also reveals that the type of businesses that perform well are those with clever names. Nearly a third (28%) said they would be more likely to shop at a business with a funny, witty or otherwise creative name.

These findings indicate the importance of communicating a sense of humanness through local retail, whether it’s through customer service or a memorable brand name. As we explore in Eco-venience Retail, retailers are increasingly reconsidering where their stores are situated, and shifting their operations to focus on Neighbourhood Networks.