News

Amefa is happy to announce it can now offer a 48-hour delivery service to Bira members. We have listened to feedback on how we could improve from Bira members and are now able to offer this enhanced service, as standard, from the 1st of April 2019. To enable this to happen we have made investments […]

Direct

This year, the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) celebrates 120 years of supporting independent retailers. Since 1899 when Bira’s predecessors – the Ironmongers Federation, the British Hardware Federation and the Drapers Chamber of Trade (DCT) were formed, and following a number of business acquisitions and partnerships, including the British Shops and Stores Association in 2009, […]

Press Releases

Members could miss out on a reduction in their business rates if they don’t contact their local authority or council to find out how the reduction will be applied. Bira have become aware of a lack of uniformity in the way local authorities are implementing the hard-fought 30 percent discount for businesses with a rateable […]

Current Business Issues
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Industry News

Bira Direct are pleased to announce three of its suppliers have been announced as winners at the 2019 Gift of the Year Awards. The Gift of the Year awards celebrate the best in home and gift retailing, the Gift of The Year Awards are the most highly-respected industry accolades aimed at recognising the best new […]

Direct

Bira Direct are please to announce three of it’s suppliers have had wins at 2019 Gift of the Year Awards. The Gift of the year awards celebrate the best in home and gift retailing, the Gift of The Year Awards announced at this years Springfair are the industries go-to for innovative new products. Dartington Crystal […]

Direct

Action to be taken against retailers found selling knives to children £500k funding for Trading Standards to prosecute retailers who repeatedly sell knives to under 18s New Knife Crime Prevention Orders will give police more powers to stop people carrying knives Further measures introduced to target early intervention with a new phase of #knifefree The […]

Current Business Issues
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Industry News

Bira has made representations to DEFRA to voice the concerns of pet shop owners who are critical of new regulations that came into force on 1 October 2018. The new Animal Activities Licensing (AAL) regulations replace several laws dating back to 1925. Now any business in England selling live animals or boarding cats or dogs […]

Current Business Issues
Industry News

New £10 and £5 notes with a vertical design and in the polymer format will be issued in Northern Ireland on 27 February. The Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank will introduce both valuations, but Danske Bank will issue only £10 notes. Unlike Bank of England notes, the existing £10 and £5 notes will always be legal currency, […]

Uncategorized

A new online marketplace for small independent retailers, As Seen On The High Street, which is linked to a national network of pop-up shops, has been set up by NewRiver REIT, a specialist retail & leisure property. The site, asseenonthehighstreet.co.uk, allows independent businesses to sell online without the hassle of setting up their own website. […]

Industry News

Sales were up for Gifts, Glass, China, Jewellery, Accessories and Luggage, Cookshop & Housewares and Health Store retailers during October – December, whilst Cards, Stationery, Cards and Hobbies struggle. The overall picture from Bira’s exclusive Quarterly Sales Monitor (QSM) for the fourth quarter of 2018 is one of disappointment, with many of the figures showing […]

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