Independent retailers are the heart of our high streets, bringing not only quality service and expertise but also community spirit. As Independents Day approaches, we’re celebrating the inspiring stories of local businesses that go above and beyond.

The high street is home to so many amazing small businesses that play a vital role in providing their local area with quality service, advice and support; not just within the four walls of their shops but also outwardly in the community.

The Love Your High Street Awards has already seen so many examples of spirited independent retailers not only being crucial fixtures within the local landscape, but also going above and beyond for its customers and wider community through events, donations, charitable work and so much more.

As independent shops around the country get involved in Independents Day, which supports and promotes independent retail businesses across the UK on Friday 4th - Saturday 5th July, we are highlighting just five of the many businesses that have been nominated for the LYHS Awards. There's so much that independent retailers bring to the communities that they're based in, with these businesses' inspiring stories part of a rich and vibrant high street that continues to serve local areas, even through challenging times.

Art Shop

in Banbury, Oxfordshire

We regularly supper the town council events in town, we are patrons of the local museum and art gallery, we set up Banbury ArtFest: an annual art event in a huge marquee with artists making and doing and selling, which saw around 1,000 visitors during the day. We did this for four years. 

We provide gallery space for local artists to show and sell their work. We chaired Banbury and District art society until its closure during the pandemic.

We also chaired, organised and ran Banbury Old Town Association which was a local retail group made up of independent businesses in Banbury, and with them organised street party’s, late night shopping, and a shopping directory (online and paper) that ran from 2010-2023, although we still keep the website and social media pages up to date for it.

DIY Shop

in Dunoon, Scotland

We remained open (classed as an essential business) during COVID and managed to supply customers with goods to keep them occupied. We regularly supply, free of charge, the local community shed with plywood to make plaques for the hanging baskets in the main street.

We have collection tins in the shop for local charities/good causes and annually host the Angel Tree; this is something that runs from October until December where we have a tree in the shop with angels on it, on each angel is information for children/adults who are needing help for Christmas. The information is the child's age and gender (or gender neutral if that's the case) and whether they need a toy or clothes etc. Customers then take an angel and bring back a present for the child/adult that's on their angel.

The presents are distributed roughly a week before Christmas. We have also supported Stay Fresh Fest since 2018, this is a local music festival that raises funds for local charities. We have had a retained fireman on our staff for 27 years.

Gift Shop

in Ipswich, Suffolk

I try and support new business and start ups. I have been a mentor for the LLoyds Bank scheme and local schemes and offer opportunities for artists to take over my window to showcase their work and encourage pop ups and artists of the month slots in store.

I speak at events about being a small business and running events, how community is key to the changing face of the high street and our town centres.

Bookshop

in Gosport, Hampshire

We work with a lot of local schools providing books at discounted prices for libraries, classes and at Book fair. We run workshops with teachers and have a number of book club clubs online and in the shop.

We run five different books subscriptions to satisfy readers of all ages and genres. We are the oldest shop in our High Street and our well supported by our local community. Many of Hugh shopped in the shop when they were very young and are now quite elderly.. 
We also sell greetings cards, stationery, and vinyl and have just expanded into secondhand books.

We support a lot of local authors as well as the big names, regularly holding Book signings. We also hold many evening events with Authors and 2025 will see us host the Lee literary festival.

In 2021 we had no choice but to try and buy the Shop from our landlord as the rent was increasing. We needed to raise an additional £30,000 to make this possible. We set up a crowd funding page and raised the £30,000 within 3 weeks.

Gift / New Age Shop

in Cannock, Staffordshire

A few years ago I helped raise money for a defibrillator in the area.

Recently one of my young customers had an accident and said he'd like some Christmas cards to cheer him up. I put out a plee for them to be delivered at my shop.

We had hundreds. from all over the world; it made him so happy.

Our customers come in as strangers and go out as friends.

These shops, and their personal connection with their local areas, are just some highlights from the 100s of nominations we have received for the Love Your High Street Awards. This Independents Day is all about celebrating those unique and truly independent high street shops that give our villages, towns and city centres their character and charm, but importantly are the backbone of so many communities up and down the country.