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Questionnaire to owners of small shops and independent businesses

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An on-line questionnaire went live on the B&NES website on January 15 . 350+ hard copies
were also circulated via ward Councillors and trade associations.

Who Responded?

• 126 responses

• 62.5% of respondents were based in Bath or its suburbs

• 31% of respondents were based in the authority’s principal towns
• 7% of respondents were from rural areas

• Two thirds of respondents employ less than 6 people.

• 53.8% of respondents mainly sell non-food goods (e.g clothes, furniture)

Headline Findings:

The three issues cited most frequently as being a barrier to successful trading were:

• High price and lack of availability of parking spaces

• High Rates/Rents
• Competition from Supermarkets and National Chains

The Panel notes these findings but have not made any specific recommendations as these
issues fall beyond their remit.

The three most popular suggestions for what B&NES could do to help smaller retailers were:

• Reducing the cost and increasing the amount of parking spaces

• Improving communications between the Council and Traders
• Reducing business rates

The subject of parking has recently been considered by another Overview and Scrutiny
Panel.

The Panel encourage all retailers to take advantage of the small business rate relief that is
available to them upon application

• The majority (48.6%) of respondents find out business-related information and advice
from their trade representative or body.

• Only a small number (10.2%) of respondents have received business advice from the
Council (either from the Economic Development Team or other service areas) and
only 16.2% of respondents said they used the B&NES website to look for business
advice.

• Nonetheless, two thirds of respondents said it was either very important or quite
important for them to be able to receive information and advice from the Council and
49% replied that they would prefer to use the B&NES website as a source of
business information and advice in the future.

• 89.7% of respondents were not aware that the Council’s Economic Development
Team offers free business support and advice.

• The majority (57.3%) of respondents said they were either slightly hopeful or very
hopeful about their future prospects.
• 21.8% of respondents said they were not at all hopeful about their future prospects.
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What are the barriers faced by small shops and

independent retailers to trading successfully?

Other
Empty shops/units
Staff/Wages
Affordable locations/property
Footfall
Competition from Internet sales
Public Transport
Issue
Lack of promotion by B&NES of local centres
Regulatory Burden/Red Tape
Cost of Overheads
Competition from national chains/supermarkets
Rents
Rates
Parking (lack of and high cost)

0 10 20 30 40 50
No. of times cited

Other Issues that were raised.

• The problems faced by shops located away from main shopping areas
or and of shopping areas in general outside of Bath. Respondents said
that they had a lack of visibility and that improved signage and better
promotion of discrete shopping areas would improve footfall in their
areas.

• Many respondents asked why priority (in terms of premises and

preferable rents) could not be given to local independents over national
chains.

• Lack of availability or knowledge of small retail units in the authority.

• Poor refuse collection leading to unsightly rubbish on the streets

• Lack of support and financial incentives for start-ups

• Council too ‘Bath-centric’ and not sympathetic enough to needs of

smaller retailers.
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Suggestions for future B&NES support

Other

More flexible leases

Better promotion of business

advice/premises
Improve public
realm/signage/streetcleansing
Curb dominance of s'markets
& nat. chains
Issues

Adjust rent levels

Better promotion of side

streets & shopping areas

Reduce business rates

Improve communications with

traders

More/cheaper parking

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Number of times cited

Other suggestions that were made

• Many respondents said they thought that more active promotion and
‘celebration’ of the authorities independent retailers would help raise their profile.
This could be achieved through special shopping events, a small-shops website,
and encouraging like-minded retailers to congregate in specific areas thus
creating significant destinations for consumers.

• Role of traders groups and local Press were cited as being important in
helping to draw attention to what smaller retailers can offer.

• Linking business in with community events. Small business is not just about
money, but also the community and the recycling of money within the community
along with boosting local employment.

• Many respondents would welcome the opportunity to work more closely with
the Council and there were several invites for Council Officers and Cllrs to ‘work-
shadow’ independent retailers to get a feel for the challenges they face.
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