The pandemic has helped lift some small businesses – while other independent retailers need our help

This Christmas shop locally and give small retailers the boost they need to carry on, writes Emma Henderson

War of words: local book sellers are fighting back against the retail giant (Getty)

Everybody wants convenience. That’s why Amazon is so useful, it’s incredibly convenient. You can buy something quite literally at the click of one button and get it tomorrow. Whether that’s dog food or light bulbs. It’s all there, and the company has thrived throughout the pandemic. 

But what is very far from convenient is losing your job, your business and your shop. And that’s what’s happened this year, where double the amount of high street shops closed between January and June, compared to last year, according to PwC. While data from Statista estimates 140,000 people lost their jobs in retail.

The closure figures don’t cover independent shops though. Without the well-known and slick websites that dominate Google searches to rely on during the numerous lockdowns, these businesses were some of the worst-hit.

Although for some independent shops, it was good news as people shopped more locally instead of going to big stores or shopping centres. According to data from analysts Kantar, independents had 69 per cent more sales on average in the three months to June.  

That’s why shopping with independent brands this year has been more important than ever. They’re the ones who jump for joy when they get a ping email notification saying an order has been made. It’s not just another digit added to the richest man in the world’s bank balance.

In May, Instagram launched a new sticker. “Support small businesses”, gives users the chance to shout about their favourite small business. It has proved a real lifeline for many, as well as helping to build a sense of community online.  

The Bookshop, launched by Andy Hunter in November, is helping to support struggling bookshops financially. Already a success in America, the anti-Amazon (if you will), is where you can buy books and support local literature sellers, who are able to have their own virtual shopfront on the site. When you buy through one of the stores, it receives the full order amount. For every purchase made, 10 per cent is donated to support local bookshops, which has so far raised more than £640,000.

While online marketplace Etsy became one of the go-to websites for buying reusable face masks as rules across the UK made them mandatory. This resulted in 110,000 Etsy shops selling around 29 million facemasks in America alone, according to Etsy data reported in August. Many of these were handmade by independent sellers and turned face masks from a niche medical product into a globally sold essential product.

But it’s not just masks and books, many people have chosen to avoid retailers like Amazon and support local shops and small independent businesses this Christmas too, while shopping for presents. And that’s the best Christmas present these small businesses can ask for – the support to keep going.  

Yours,

Emma Henderson

IndyBest editor