Knowledge hub

Bira Direct Product of the Month

  Latex backed Coir Mats from JVL The world is changing at a fast pace with more and more emphasis on recyclable, reusable and compostable items as part of our everyday life. We’re keeping up with the changes and JVL was one of the first to change coir backing to latex. How does latex backed […]

October Buyers Essentials

Expert Buyer Suzanne Chapman has curated a list of must have buyers essentials. This months key ranges are Halloween, Autumn Fragrance and Cosy up. 

Top home & gift buying tips for the Christmas season

Top home & gift buying tips for the Christmas period from Suzanne Chapman. Including products from Deyongs, Village Candle and Cozy time.

6 quick tips to prepare your business for winter weather

We’ve highlighted six useful tips to consider throughout the chillier months to help you avoid costly accidents and weather damage in your businesses.

Cutting through health and safety “blue tape”

Health and safety rules imposed not by government regulation but by businesses on each other impacts SMEs and the wider health and safety system.

Take a few minutes. Save a lot of money.

Whether you joined Bira last week or 25 years ago, you can easily recoup the cost of your membership fee by taking a few quick steps to make full use of Bira’s membership benefits.

Justifying discrimination

Receiving a discrimination claim can be a real concern for employers but when it happens it’s essential that your actions are justifiable. Find out more.

4 Digital tools you can use to drive foot traffic to your retail store

Driving traffic into your business shouldn’t be difficult. Utilise these four digital tools to ensure high street traffic is coming your way.

Training for the storage, display, sale and delivery of knives

Train your staff to responsibly sell knives and comply with the law, with this training from The Metropolitan police, MOPAC and London Trading Standards.

Holiday pay: Court bans pro-rating entitlement for zero-hour and casual workers

Following a recent decision by the Court of Appeal, employers must now abandon generally accepted methods for calculating holiday pay for part-year workers.

Why the high street isn’t dead

We recently worked with Mediaplanet on the 2019 Business and Industry: Future of Retail campaign. A printed publication was enclosed within every copy of the City A.M. newspaper and the content is available online at www.businessandindustry.co.uk . The campaign featured exclusive content from key thought leaders and industry voices about the future of retail and why there is still hope for high street.

Filing accounts at Companies House

Last year 25049 companies filed accounts but missed the deadline of 30 September 2018 (incurring an automatic late filing penalty). With 300,000 sets of accounts being due this month, September is one of the busiest months at Companies House. Here are tips to help you file your accounts.

Transporting goods between the UK and EU in a no-deal Brexit

Download this handy guide if you need to transport your goods to the EU post-Brexit. Hauliers and commercial drivers will need the correct documentation to travel to, from or through the EU if the UK leaves without a deal.

Importing and exporting post-Brexit

Get all the information you need about EORI numbers for importing and exporting goods post-Brexit.  

How should members prepare for Brexit?

The government has provided some general guidance for retail on what to expect after the Brexit decision on 31 October. Some points require action now, whether we end up with a deal or no-deal Brexit.

8 top tips to get your customers to spend more

We all know attracting new customers costs much more than selling to existing customers. But how do we sell more without using pushy sales tactics that are likely to get customers running a mile rather than reaching for their wallet? Here are 8 tips for increasing basket spend.

5 ways to build a more successful loyalty programme

Attracting customers to shop at your business isn’t always the hardest part of being a retailer. The hardest part of actually keeping them! Here’s the key to creating an engaging loyalty scheme to keep your customers coming back.

Two Ducks

Claire Leigh clearly has her ducks in a row, with an award-winning boutique in its sixth year, an intuitive ePOS system, and a refurb and rebrand in progress.

Introducing Flavour Revival: a modern take on nostalgic recipes and cookware

Putting a contemporary spin on your staple cookware favourites. Explore Le Creuset’s all-new range: Flavour Revival Collection. Le Creuset’s Cookware, NEW Dinnerware and Accessories in the Flavour Revival colour palette will add an air of sophistication and class to your customers’ dining space.

Storing up confidence

By constantly investing in his four department stores in Northern Ireland, Jersey and north Wales, Neville Moore is ready for an independents’ revival.

Member magazine – September/October

The September/October edition of the Bira Member Magazine of the British Independent Retailers Association, featuring the ‘Big Interview’ Neville Moore who runs department stores from Jersey to Northern Ireland.

Recruiting new staff

A well-thought-out recruitment process will help you to fill the position with the best possible candidate, support business objectives and avoid any legal pitfalls. Ellis Whittam, the providers of the Bira Legal service have provided a nine step checklist to guide you through the recruitment process.

A definite Maybe* deal

Maybe* helps retailers see results from social media and it is now offering a free trial for all Bira members. Polly Barnfield OBE, founder of Maybe*, explains the service.

Early adopters

Philip Morris & Sons’ two shops in Hereford may look very traditional but the firm has been trading successfully online for almost 20 years. Managing partner John Jones tells Bira what it was like to run his business at the start of the ecommerce boom.

The changing face of the high street

As the high street evolves due to consumer needs, retailers have learned to reinvent themselves. Those fastest to adapt to trends are most likely to thrive.

Make a connection

Tips and tricks on how to turn up your social media volume on a budget.

Are you ready for the new rules on payments?

With payments technology evolving at a fast pace, we ask industry experts about the major changes that will affect independent retailers and how to prepare for them.

9 essential pages every indie retail website needs

Customers have certain expectations when it comes to visiting a website, and it’s up to retailers to offer an easy way for users to navigate the site.

How to create powerful customer loyalty

How can independents compete with big stores like Boots and Amazon? We explore how small businesses can effectively keep their customer base coming back and what not to do when creating a loyalty scheme.

How should employers respond to sexual harassment complaints?

Under the Equality Act 2010, employers may be held vicariously liable for acts of discrimination, harassment and victimisation carried out by employees in the course of their employment, unless you can demonstrate that you took all reasonable steps to prevent it occurring. It’s therefore imperative to take a firm stance against any behaviour that oversteps […]

Introducing the RMM for the South and South-West

The RMM for the south and south-west is Gary Mitchell, who lives in a small village in Somerset between Glastonbury and Bridgwater. He has been with Bira since 2017.

Doing it by the book

The quiet village of St Boswells in the Scottish Borders is an unlikely location for the country’s Best Small Shop. Rosamund and Bill de la Hey prove that with the right concept, an independent business can become a brand and a destination.

When less is definitely NOT more

Under insurance investigation for SME’s is so serious that experts estimate as many as 35% are not insured for the full value. SMEs are self-insuring without realising it.

Gifting businesses struggle with what to say on social media

Maybe* listened to the online conversations created by and about online gifting retailers to see how they are using Facebook and Twitter to engage their audience, increase brand awareness and drive positive sentiment.

Member magazine – July/August

The July/August edition of the Bira Member Magazine of the British Independent Retailers Association, featuring the ‘Big Interview’ with Mainstreet Trading Company, trade news, social media tips, new rules on payments and more.

Why entering awards is worth your while

Awards are a fantastic opportunity to promote your business. Not only can they encourage more footfall to your shop but they can also lead to greater exposure in the media and on social media.

PCI DSS compliance: are you paying more than you need to?

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a worldwide mandate that was introduced to assist businesses with card payment processing security and to reduce fraudulent activity.

Why benchmarking is critical for every independent retail business

For many small businesses, understanding the impact of their social media efforts is challenging. Are their results in line with their sector, with their competitors, with other independent retail businesses? Without the context of performance measurement, it’s impossible to know.

Payments Toolkit – Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)

New payment legislation coming into force this September could mean you’re left in an uncomfortable situation of dealing with declined card transactions. Read this guide to find out why this is happening so you can reassure your customers and spare them any embarrassment.

4 powerful free marketing tactics to boost your business

How can you attract more customers to your store or website on a tiny marketing budget?  The answer is to get creative with your marketing to achieve maximum impact for minimum cost.

Enhance consumers experience with quieter technology

Long term excessive day to day noise can result in an increase to our stress levels, affect our sleep patterns and daily routines.  Sound effects our brain waves, heart rate, breathing, hormone secretion and all our physical rhythms. Technology dependency depletes us and has to be balanced out, this where the search for quietness begins. […]

Managing employees: how to have a stress-free summer

We’re beginning to enjoy the start of the summer weather – but as an employer, you may be anxious about the chaos that this time of year can bring.

At the heart of government

Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre believes the consistent work the association does in lobbying the lawmakers in Westminster on behalf of independent retailers is among the most valuable service it provides to its members. Here he provides an update to live issues.

Accept payments on the go with Mobile Pay

In-store or on-the-go, get paid fast with the powerful mobile point of sale app and card reader, from Bira’s preferred Card Processing service provider, Global Payments.

Hints and tips for protecting your business against fraud

Fraudsters have many ways of targeting businesses, whether anonymously online, posing as a customer or in your employment. This guide aims to provide you with some popular hints and tips for identifying potential fraud to help you protect your business.

4 proven ways to drive foot traffic to your retail store

We’ll explore the many ways to increase foot traffic in your retail business. Go through the tips and examples and see if you can apply them to your marketing efforts.

Lone Working – Reducing the risks for your businesses

Employers who don’t take steps to reduce the risks associated with their employees working alone will be breaking the law.

Is now the best time to start a coffee shop?

Is now the best time to start a coffee shop? The current growth in the UK coffee market suggests so. Here, Stewarts of Trent Bridge guides us through their journey so far.

How to choose the right inventory management system for your retail store

If you’re looking to level up your store’s inventory management practices, follow these tips for selecting the right stock control solution for your business.

Making Tax Digital for VAT – Are you ready?

If you’re filing your own VAT returns as part of Making Tax Digital (MTD), we’ve identified some key tips to ensure you’re ready.

Bira Direct Product of the Month

  Latex backed Coir Mats from JVL The world is changing at a fast pace with more and more emphasis on recyclable, reusable and compostable items as part of our everyday life. We’re keeping up with the changes and JVL was one of the first to change coir backing to latex. How does latex backed […]

Cutting through health and safety “blue tape”

Health and safety rules imposed not by government regulation but by businesses on each other impacts SMEs and the wider health and safety system.

6 quick tips to prepare your business for winter weather

We’ve highlighted six useful tips to consider throughout the chillier months to help you avoid costly accidents and weather damage in your businesses.

October Buyers Essentials

Expert Buyer Suzanne Chapman has curated a list of must have buyers essentials. This months key ranges are Halloween, Autumn Fragrance and Cosy up. 

Top home & gift buying tips for the Christmas season

Top home & gift buying tips for the Christmas period from Suzanne Chapman. Including products from Deyongs, Village Candle and Cozy time.

4 Digital tools you can use to drive foot traffic to your retail store

Driving traffic into your business shouldn’t be difficult. Utilise these four digital tools to ensure high street traffic is coming your way.

Training for the storage, display, sale and delivery of knives

Train your staff to responsibly sell knives and comply with the law, with this training from The Metropolitan police, MOPAC and London Trading Standards.

Holiday pay: Court bans pro-rating entitlement for zero-hour and casual workers

Following a recent decision by the Court of Appeal, employers must now abandon generally accepted methods for calculating holiday pay for part-year workers.

Why the high street isn’t dead

We recently worked with Mediaplanet on the 2019 Business and Industry: Future of Retail campaign. A printed publication was enclosed within every copy of the City A.M. newspaper and the content is available online at www.businessandindustry.co.uk . The campaign featured exclusive content from key thought leaders and industry voices about the future of retail and why there is still hope for high street.

Filing accounts at Companies House

Last year 25049 companies filed accounts but missed the deadline of 30 September 2018 (incurring an automatic late filing penalty). With 300,000 sets of accounts being due this month, September is one of the busiest months at Companies House. Here are tips to help you file your accounts.

5 ways to build a more successful loyalty programme

Attracting customers to shop at your business isn’t always the hardest part of being a retailer. The hardest part of actually keeping them! Here’s the key to creating an engaging loyalty scheme to keep your customers coming back.

Introducing Flavour Revival: a modern take on nostalgic recipes and cookware

Putting a contemporary spin on your staple cookware favourites. Explore Le Creuset’s all-new range: Flavour Revival Collection. Le Creuset’s Cookware, NEW Dinnerware and Accessories in the Flavour Revival colour palette will add an air of sophistication and class to your customers’ dining space.

8 top tips to get your customers to spend more

We all know attracting new customers costs much more than selling to existing customers. But how do we sell more without using pushy sales tactics that are likely to get customers running a mile rather than reaching for their wallet? Here are 8 tips for increasing basket spend.

Two Ducks

Claire Leigh clearly has her ducks in a row, with an award-winning boutique in its sixth year, an intuitive ePOS system, and a refurb and rebrand in progress.

The changing face of the high street

As the high street evolves due to consumer needs, retailers have learned to reinvent themselves. Those fastest to adapt to trends are most likely to thrive.

9 essential pages every indie retail website needs

Customers have certain expectations when it comes to visiting a website, and it’s up to retailers to offer an easy way for users to navigate the site.

How to create powerful customer loyalty

How can independents compete with big stores like Boots and Amazon? We explore how small businesses can effectively keep their customer base coming back and what not to do when creating a loyalty scheme.

When less is definitely NOT more

Under insurance investigation for SME’s is so serious that experts estimate as many as 35% are not insured for the full value. SMEs are self-insuring without realising it.

Gifting businesses struggle with what to say on social media

Maybe* listened to the online conversations created by and about online gifting retailers to see how they are using Facebook and Twitter to engage their audience, increase brand awareness and drive positive sentiment.

Why entering awards is worth your while

Awards are a fantastic opportunity to promote your business. Not only can they encourage more footfall to your shop but they can also lead to greater exposure in the media and on social media.

PCI DSS compliance: are you paying more than you need to?

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a worldwide mandate that was introduced to assist businesses with card payment processing security and to reduce fraudulent activity.

Why benchmarking is critical for every independent retail business

For many small businesses, understanding the impact of their social media efforts is challenging. Are their results in line with their sector, with their competitors, with other independent retail businesses? Without the context of performance measurement, it’s impossible to know.

Payments Toolkit – Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)

New payment legislation coming into force this September could mean you’re left in an uncomfortable situation of dealing with declined card transactions. Read this guide to find out why this is happening so you can reassure your customers and spare them any embarrassment.

4 powerful free marketing tactics to boost your business

How can you attract more customers to your store or website on a tiny marketing budget?  The answer is to get creative with your marketing to achieve maximum impact for minimum cost.

Enhance consumers experience with quieter technology

Long term excessive day to day noise can result in an increase to our stress levels, affect our sleep patterns and daily routines.  Sound effects our brain waves, heart rate, breathing, hormone secretion and all our physical rhythms. Technology dependency depletes us and has to be balanced out, this where the search for quietness begins. […]

Accept payments on the go with Mobile Pay

In-store or on-the-go, get paid fast with the powerful mobile point of sale app and card reader, from Bira’s preferred Card Processing service provider, Global Payments.

Lone Working – Reducing the risks for your businesses

Employers who don’t take steps to reduce the risks associated with their employees working alone will be breaking the law.

Making Tax Digital for VAT – Are you ready?

If you’re filing your own VAT returns as part of Making Tax Digital (MTD), we’ve identified some key tips to ensure you’re ready.

Cookware conversation is driven by deals and discounting

What are your customers saying on social media about the cookware industry? Now you don’t have to guess. We’ve partnered with Maybe* to provide you with the latest cookware trends and conversations.

Independent gift shops should promote their strengths over an online experience

As an independent retailer, you probably don’t have time to scour the internet to find inspiration on the latest giftware trends. We’ve partnered up with Maybe*, to deliver up-to-the-minute insight in your industry!

The DIY and hardware conversation is being lead by gardening and garden centres

We’d all like to be the first to know what the next big DIY trend is going to be! Here’s how to simply create content for your DIY & Hardware business.

How to choose the right inventory management system for your retail store

If you’re looking to level up your store’s inventory management practices, follow these tips for selecting the right stock control solution for your business.

Why ignoring mental health is bad for business (and what you can do about it)

The association between work and wellbeing is becoming increasingly obvious; despite this, the Stevenson/Farmer review of mental health and employers reveals that only 39% of organisations have policies or systems in place to support employees with common mental health conditions.

Cutting the cost of car scams

Following a spate of fraudster scams pretending to be from the DVLA, we’ve highlighted how criminals are stealing from unsuspecting motorists.

Making visual impact through colour

Independent retailers are at an advantage over online shops when it comes to making visual impact. By utilising visual merchandising through texture, shape and colour retailers can create displays that influence customers spending habits.

Changes for employers from April 2019

A brief summary of the key changes that employers should be aware of from 6th April 2019.

5 lessons independent retailers can learn from luxury brands

We’ve shed light on some of the key lessons that independent stores can learn from high-end retail brands.

Take a break from the holiday pay confusion

There may still be confusion as to what employers can, and can’t do when it comes to holidays. With bank holidays on the horizon, we’ve addressed the many myths and misunderstandings regarding holidays and holiday pay.

How to start a retail business: 9 Steps to get your biz up and running

If you’re at the start of your business journey take a look at this retail roadmap to get you started on your path to success. By taking these steps, you’ll be well on your way to starting a retail operation of your own.

Increases in minimum pension contributions – April 2019

In April, the minimum contributions will increase again from 5% to 8%. Increasing contributions should be straightforward but there are checks to make.

Transporting goods between the UK and EU in a no-deal Brexit

Download this handy guide if you need to transport your goods to the EU post-Brexit. Hauliers and commercial drivers will need the correct documentation to travel to, from or through the EU if the UK leaves without a deal.

Importing and exporting post-Brexit

Get all the information you need about EORI numbers for importing and exporting goods post-Brexit.  

Recruiting new staff

A well-thought-out recruitment process will help you to fill the position with the best possible candidate, support business objectives and avoid any legal pitfalls. Ellis Whittam, the providers of the Bira Legal service have provided a nine step checklist to guide you through the recruitment process.

Accept payments on the go with Mobile Pay

In-store or on-the-go, get paid fast with the powerful mobile point of sale app and card reader, from Bira’s preferred Card Processing service provider, Global Payments.

Hints and tips for protecting your business against fraud

Fraudsters have many ways of targeting businesses, whether anonymously online, posing as a customer or in your employment. This guide aims to provide you with some popular hints and tips for identifying potential fraud to help you protect your business.

How to look after your mental health

Bira are proud supporters of Mental Health Foundation who help drive conversations on mental health and body image to create lasting change. Here’s some advice from the Mental Health Foundation on how to look after you and your colleagues’ mental health.

Your step-by-step guide to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Process

Your step-by-step guide to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) Process provided by Bira’s chosen Card Processing provider, Global Payments.

Making Tax Digital – A bitesize guide for business

Making Tax Digital begins in April. This useful, bite-size guide for business will explain everything you need to know.

Your online retail guide

Not only has e-commerce completely shifted how consumers’ shop, the online world is now having a transformative impact on the in-store physical retail experience. Find out how you can start creating meaningful moments across your businesses digital journey.

Managing paternity leave in your business

You may think that every expectant father is entitled to time off, but in fact there are a number of eligibility conditions that need to be fulfilled.

bira’s Business Rates Manifesto

A simpler, standard rateable allowance to help independent retail businesses. Read bira’s Business Rates Manifesto, which has been presented to MP’s here.

Home Office Serious Violence Strategy

The Home Office will today (Monday 9 April) launch the Serious Violence Strategy, which will set out the Government’s response to the recent increase in knife crime, gun crime and homicide.

Cyber Aware’s new Perception Gap Report

This innovative new report evidences the misconceptions the public have towards cyber security, compared to the reality of the threat – a perceptions gap which is eroding our resilience to cyber criminals.

Withdrawing the paper £10 note – FAQ’s

The last day to use your paper £10 notes is 1 March 2018. The Bank of England answers your frequently asked questions regarding the withdrawal in this factsheet.

Navigating the financial landscape

Financial planning responds to seasonal changes. Wren Sterling offers insight on how to navigate the financial landscape.

SMEs and Cyber Attacks: What you need to know

Only 1 in 4 small businesses are prepared for a cyber attack. Prevent your business from being hindered by a cyber attack by managing business risks. Source: Towergate Insurance

The definitive guide to mobile marketing and alerts

We are increasingly becoming a mobile-first society. Here, Text Local brings to you the definitive guide to mobile marketing for your business.

Your guide to the General Data Protection Regulation

The way in which personal data is used and protected is set to change in May 2018.

Business Rates Manifesto – March 2017

Your guide to selling and using chemical products

Your guide to carrying cash

Your guide to taking a lease

Your guide to partnerships and limited companies

Your guide to Business Names

Justifying discrimination

Receiving a discrimination claim can be a real concern for employers but when it happens it’s essential that your actions are justifiable. Find out more.

Northumbria Pets

Northumbria Pets first came across bira in 2006 at a trade show event and has been a member ever since, taking advantage of bira direct’s pre-negotiated terms and discounts with suppliers.

Advance Performance

Sam Hale of Advance Performance discusses her business journey which started 18 years ago from a back bedroom at home. The ‘running store for everyone’ is now based in both Peterborough and Cambridge and prides itself on offering a high customer service which cannot be delivered by an online-only retail store.

A recipe for bags load of energy

Ever wondered how you could get bags load of energy? National Association of Health Stores (NAHS) explains how to make the most from items you can find at your local independent Health Store.

How to login to the Member Dashboard

A step-by-step guide on how to login to the Member Dashboard, available to bira members. Unlock member-only service information, resources, bira member magazines and exclusive content today.

How to use bira direct Invoice Manager

It’s now easier to keep all of your invoices in one place. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to us bira direct Invoice Manager, available to all bira members.

Your guide to updating your supplier page

A step-by-step video tutorial on how to edit your bira direct supplier page.

Toolshop

Meet Vin Vara – Bira’s formal National President and independent hardware business owner of the Tool Shop Group.

Glasswells

Member testimonial

Rachel Riley

Member testimonial

Lords

Member testimonial

Coes

Member testimonial