A new drive to grow the number of small businesses in the UK, through targeted support for side-hustles and start-ups, has been announced by Small Business Britain and eBay.
The new Side-Hustle Lab – a free, six-week online programme, designed to help people get started, scale up, and build successful businesses – will launch on 4th June.
With the number of small businesses falling by 9 percent over the last five years – from a peak of 6 million in 2020 to 5.45 million in 2024 – the organisations are jointly calling for greater support for start-ups, and particularly businesses starting life as side-hustles.
Posted: 3 June 2025
Leading carton manufacturers, Falconer Print & Packaging, has helped Yorkshire-based brand, The Woodland Gift Company, turn a heartfelt vision into a commercial triumph by producing a bespoke, storybook-style jewellery box that has redefined the brand's identity.
Thanks to the team at Falconer Print, what began as a simple prototype crafted on an ironing board has transformed into a beautifully engineered packaging solution.
The whimsical "Storybook Gift Box", opening into an enchanting woodland scene with a jewellery jar nestled inside, has captured customers' imaginations and helped the brand achieve one of its strongest trading periods ever.
"From our first meeting, Falconer Print just got it," said Charlotte Appleton, founder of The Woodland Gift Company.
Posted: 28 May 2025
G H Stafford & Son LTD — one of the UK's leading suppliers of leathergoods and accessories — is launching a nationwide Window Display Competition to celebrate the creativity of independent retailers. The competition kicks off on Saturday 24th May 2025.
Retailers are invited to submit photos of a window display featuring G H Staffords' products by Monday 7th July 2025, with a £100 account credit awarded to the best entry in each of six regions:
Scotland & NI, North, Midlands, South, Wales, and Ireland.
Posted: 22 May 2025
The Creative Retail Awards has unveiled the judging panel for the 2025 Awards, which celebrate innovation and excellence across the retail, leisure, and hospitality sectors.
This year's panel is tasked with selecting the most impactful projects.
The 2025 judging panel includes:
· Isabella Fish – Retail Editor at The Times and The Sunday Times, widely recognised for her in-depth coverage and analysis of trends shaping the retail landscape.
· Ian Scott – International retail consultant and founder of Ian Scott Consulting, known for his expertise in retail strategy and global trends. He is notably credited with introducing the concept of Symbiotic Retail, an approach that advocates for all retail channels to function cohesively as a unified ecosystem to enhance the shopper experience.
Posted: 29 April 2025
New research from jewellery brand Azora reveals a cultural shift in how Brits shop for jewellery, with younger generations abandoning trend-led buys in favour of minimalist, meaningful pieces that define a new kind of status symbol – the capsule collection.
In a nationwide survey, conducted to coincide with Earth Day, the data found that eight in ten Gen Z (people under 28 years of age) consumers now shop exclusively for everyday or investment pieces. For Millennials, the figure is two-thirds. Jewellery has become an expression of personal identity – worn daily, chosen with care, and rooted in emotional significance.
Despite the UK jewellery market exceeding £11 billion in 2023/2024, today's shoppers are embracing a "fewer, finer" mindset.
Posted: 28 April 2025
Voyado, the Swedish retail technology platform, has unveiled new research into UK consumer spending habits, revealing a strong preference for in-store shopping across the UK's leading retail brands.
The study, which surveyed 2,000 UK consumers, highlights the continued appeal of physical stores, even with a flourishing e-commerce landscape.
According to the research, John Lewis and Next are among the few retailers where online preference exists, with 17 percent of consumers opting for digital shopping. At Marks & Spencer, 45 percent of shoppers prefer in-store visits, while UK supermarket clothing brands F&F Clothing from Tesco (50 percent) and George at ASDA (42 percent) see significantly more engagement in physical retail spaces than online.
Posted: 8 April 2025
Independent retailers will stock more adventure-inspired accessories, opulent vintage pieces, natural goods and playful nostalgic items this year, according to the 2025 forecast from online wholesale marketplace Faire.
Faire's newly-released report examined thousands of product searches from the independent retailers using the platform across the world to identify the products that are expected to see a surge in demand in 2025 and the four consumer trends behind their growing appeal:
Victorian noir
It found a growing appetite for bold, indulgent décor and accessories among Faire's retailers, influenced by period dramas and the rejection of pared-back minimalism, was contributing to a rise in searches for shop owners looking for 'burgundy', 'mirrors', and 'brocade' on the platform.
Posted: 31 March 2025
As the June 2025 deadline for the European Accessibility Act approaches, Nexer Digital has launched a new campaign, I Matter Too, to raise awareness about the importance of inclusive online experiences.
The campaign aims to encourage online retailers to act now and embrace digital accessibility as a core part of their strategy, not just to meet legal requirements but to go beyond compliance and deliver true inclusivity.
I Matter Too sheds light on the barriers faced by people with disabilities in accessing digital services, apps, and platforms, tools that have become essential to daily life.
The campaign video, central to the initiative, highlights real stories from individuals who have struggled with inaccessible technologies and services.
Posted: 17 March 2025
Robin Valley, a sustainable jewellery brand founded by husband-and-wife duo Liang Zhang and Wanchong Chen, has opened its first physical store in Manchester's Arndale Centre.
The business completed 54 transactions on its opening day, with takings of over £1,000.
The opening marks a significant milestone in the business's rapid growth since it secured a £15,000 Start Up Loan from the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans programme in 2023. In doing so it crossed a milestone of £1bn of Start Up Loans financing for start up and early stage businesses.
With a strong focus on sustainability, Robin Valley is known for its crafted wooden fashion jewellery, designing and selling earrings, necklaces, key chains and more.
Posted: 10 March 2025
British walking stick specialist Classic Canes has announced a forthcoming change of ownership. From 1st June 2025, Classic Canes will be owned by its long-term supplier, Gastrock of Germany.
Classic Canes' managing director and co-owner Charlotte Gillan said, "My parents and I are delighted to have accepted an offer for Classic Canes from our long-term suppliers and close personal friends, the Gastrock family of Germany. Hans and Elke Gastrock and their children, Peter and Sara, share our commitment to excellence in design and quality and they are the perfect people to supply our customers in Great Britain and beyond."
Gastrock was established in 1868 and has passed through many generations of the same family. The company manufactures high quality wooden walking sticks in Germany to this day and is also an established international wholesaler.
Posted: 4 March 2025
