Resources

How to use retail analytics to delight customers and increase sales

Being data-centric in retail is more important than ever. Here’s how to use retail analytics and hard data to make smarter decisions toward higher profits

Meet three new recruits who represent the amazing variety of the bira membership

Our retailers are a varied and interesting community. Here we meet three new recruits: The Highland Bookshop, Tivi Ale and Velvet Exclusive Ladieswear.

The great hedge: How to manage margins in a fluctuating currency market

If football is a game of two halves, then business – particularly retail business – is a game of two margins: planned and actual.

Dismissing an employee for gross misconduct

bira legal looks into the issue of gross misconduct and answers commonly asked questions from retailers regarding justifiable employee dismissal.

The pressured consumer – How can retailers ease the squeeze?

Pressures on wages, inflation driven by a weak pound, and overall economic uncertainty have threatened to slay the beast formally known as the UK consumer.

Retailers get social

Topping the list of factors positively affecting business for cookshop and housewares retailers in 2017 was promotional activity, with 61% of respondents putting social media as a top priority.

Sorbon Estates partnership supports independent tenants

Beaconsfield-based commercial property owner Sorbon Estates has so far paid for a year’s membership of bira for eight independent retail tenants across the south of England and is in talks with others.

Our suppliers truly deliver

CEO Alan Hawkins tips his hat to bira’s vital partners and providers

Feeling the heat at work

As summer approaches, a mini heat wave has come along and made us all hot under the collar. It is best for employers to be prepared and know what to do if and when the temperature ramps up.

Exclusive offers at Exclusively events

There’s not long left to book your place at this year’s Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical exhibitions. On 12-13 June suppliers will showcase new products, Christmas collections and preview spring/summer launches at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London.

Health store sales up, DIY sales down in Q1

Sales of shovels and sledges may well have been high during Q1, but these weren’t enough to pick up sales for the sector. Hard-ware and DIY saw a -2.86% lower performance against the same quarter last year.

Carolyn Stennett of Chica Shoes has made a success out of doing things her own way

“The core clientele I had built up at Chica Shoes during four years followed me and it was an instant success.”

Member magazine – June 2018

In Bury St Edmunds, Caroyl Stennett of Chica Shoes keeps things nice and simple.

Suzanne Temple tells us what’s next for Blue and The Loft

Suzanne Temple tells us what it’s like to own a premium women’s fashion store in Cheltenham and an eclectic lifestyle business in a former department store in Bath.

Making the most of the seasons with Bijouled

Georgina Collins from jewellery and accessories retailer Bijouled in Yorkshire says using the seasons, trying new things and having a critical eye is the key to grabbing attention with windows throughout the year.

Giving back is good for business

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) for retailers: find out why giving back doesn’t just make the world a better place, it’s good for business.

Independents’ Day UK

bira is proud to support Independents’ Day UK: a not-for-profit campaign that exists to support and promote independent retail businesses across the UK all year round.

Fond goodbyes, with discounts

When the retailing sands ran out for Indie-Anna, posting the Closing Down Sale signs became inevitable. They proved to be quite a magnet for customers.

Punish criminals, not cook shops

View the latest letter to the editor from a concerned independent retailer, who says that Goverment needs to think about recent proposal for tackling crime.

How to improve your store’s conversion rate

If you’re seeing low conversion rates in your store, fret not. There are several action steps you can take to increase your conversions.

Living the good life in Fife

With a frontage more than 100 yards long, 13 departments and a busy café, Rejects Department Store in Kirkcaldy is a dominant retailing force in Fife.

Attempt to license Scottish pet shops

Pet Shops in Scotland may be subject to tighter controls if a proposed Member’s Bill wins support.

Closures continue as market restructures

The ongoing reshaping of the UK retail scene is clear from a new report that shows the number of independent shops decreased by 1,483 units in 2017, a significant change from the net increase of 795 shops in 2016.

Can I make employees work on bank holidays?

With another bank holiday around the corner, know exactly where you stand regarding the rights that employees have with time off.

March sales fall

The tough retail market conditions and changing shopping patterns are revealed in the latest tranche of reports from the British Retail Consortium.

Cooking up an experience

Two floors above the Cookmate cook shop in central Worcester have been converted into a cookery school by owner Caroline Gregory to increase the footfall and relevance of her business.

The common causes of stockouts and how to avoid them

Clearly, stockouts not only lead to lost customers, they can also diminish your brand’s image. That’s why it’s incredibly important to manage your inventory and ensure that you never run out of your best products.

Record £90k rebate for bira direct users

bira members invoicing through bira direct have shared a rebate of £90,000 as a result of their use of Stax Trade Centres in 2017.

Meet bira’s new national president, Surinder Josan

Meet bira’s new national president, Surinder Josan, who is looking forward to his 12 months of meeting independent retailers who are as enthusiastic as himself.

Minimum wage terminology

Given the varied terminology for minimum pay rates, it is understandable that keeping track of everything may be a difficult task. Stay informed on the different variations and what you need to know.

Member magazine – May 2018

New national President Surinder Josan is ready for his year of action.

Drop shipping an evolution of your business?

Offering a wide range of products from leading suppliers and brands is a huge financial cost for independents. Get the quantities wrong and you’re almost certainly going to be left with costly filled shelves, with your cash flow and profitability affected.

Stop theft in your workplace!

In the retail sector, theft can manifest itself in a variety of ways that you may not have considered. Find out what to do, should you ever need to investigate theft.

Pease of Garforth sticks to its principles with the help of a new transactional website

Kevin has been passing on this common-sense approach to retailing to his son Matthew, 34, for the past 17 years.

Since 1957 John Brown has been serving the household and hardware needs of the residents of Nailsea

We caught up with owner, Joe Fordham to find out more.

Exclusively Housewares

Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical have become the focus of the year for housewares, table top and small domestic appliances exhibitors to showcase new products.

Salisbury “is open for business”

Retailers in Salisbury are insistent that they are open for business despite the nerve agent outrage on 4 March that left three people fighting for their lives and parts of The Maltings retail centre cordoned off.

Don’t ignore the cyber security risk

Most retailers go to great lengths to protect their customers in their shop, but have you considered protecting your customers digitally?

Dulux Colour of the Year

Colour is the most powerful form of non-verbal communication and yet we often overlook its ability to attract customers into store, make them stay for longer and spend more money.

New wage rates apply from 1 April

The latest levels for the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage took effect on 1 April. We list here how the officially sanctioned wage rates have changed in the past dozen years or so.

Brushing away the dust to find the hidden gold

Scotland’s oldest bespoke tailor, Stewart Christie in Queen Street, Edinburgh, is being revived and renewed under its new owners, Vixy Rae and Dan Fearn.

Celebrations at Essentials

The National Charity Autism at Kingwood received a donation of £1,000 from the finale of the year-long celebration for the 30th anniversary of Essentials of Hazlemere on 30 January.

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.

Vin Vara presents his favourite photographic highlights from his two-year presidency

Vin Vara has been a busy man during his two years as bira national president. As he prepares to hand over the chain of office on 10 May, he looks back over a hectic 24 months.

4 layout and product positioning tips to help you drive sales in your retail store

When was the last time you made a major change in your store layout or design? If you answered “last year” or “I can’t remember,” your store’s look and feel may be due for an upgrade.

A new legal entity for bira

As part of its commitment to remain as relevant as possible for its members, bira needs to update its legal status. For this reason, bira is proposing to follow the route taken by many other trade associations and become a company limited by guarantee (“Restructure”).

Join the retailing high-flyers

The Oxford Summer School (OSS) is delighted to announce that applications are now being accepted for Foundation retailTRUST scholarships.

Lucy Matthews has found plenty of ways to keep her family’s bookshops relevant and popular in the age of Amazon

In Carlisle and Keswick, Lucy Matthews has found plenty of ways to keep her family’s bookshops relevant and popular in the age of Amazon.

Member magazine – April 2018

How Lucy Matthews is writing the next chapter on her family’s book shops in Cumbria

17.5 pounds each in 175 days in celebration of Rainy Day Trust’s 175th birthday!

Alan Hawkins, Jeff Moody, and Vin Vara, bira President are undertaking a big challenge this year to support The Rainy Day Trust.

EuroCommerce Interchange Survey

The purpose of this survey is to collect our own independent data on how effective the Regulation has been for you and your business during the last 12 months for which you have full figures. By agreeing to participate in this survey, you will help protect those benefits by allowing us to present a clear picture of what is really happening across Europe.

National Home Improvement Week

‘Love the Home You Live In’ is the tagline for National Home Improvement Week, a new consumer marketing initiative to be held during 12-18 March.

The great hedge: How to manage margins in a fluctuating currency market

If football is a game of two halves, then business – particularly retail business – is a game of two margins: planned and actual.

The pressured consumer – How can retailers ease the squeeze?

Pressures on wages, inflation driven by a weak pound, and overall economic uncertainty have threatened to slay the beast formally known as the UK consumer.

Dismissing an employee for gross misconduct

bira legal looks into the issue of gross misconduct and answers commonly asked questions from retailers regarding justifiable employee dismissal.

Feeling the heat at work

As summer approaches, a mini heat wave has come along and made us all hot under the collar. It is best for employers to be prepared and know what to do if and when the temperature ramps up.

How to use retail analytics to delight customers and increase sales

Being data-centric in retail is more important than ever. Here’s how to use retail analytics and hard data to make smarter decisions toward higher profits

Independents’ Day UK

bira is proud to support Independents’ Day UK: a not-for-profit campaign that exists to support and promote independent retail businesses across the UK all year round.

Can I make employees work on bank holidays?

With another bank holiday around the corner, know exactly where you stand regarding the rights that employees have with time off.

Minimum wage terminology

Given the varied terminology for minimum pay rates, it is understandable that keeping track of everything may be a difficult task. Stay informed on the different variations and what you need to know.

How to improve your store’s conversion rate

If you’re seeing low conversion rates in your store, fret not. There are several action steps you can take to increase your conversions.

Stop theft in your workplace!

In the retail sector, theft can manifest itself in a variety of ways that you may not have considered. Find out what to do, should you ever need to investigate theft.

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

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

Member testimonial

Glasswells

Member testimonial

Rachel Riley

Member testimonial

Lords

Member testimonial