New Research Shows UK Consumers Spent £7bn With Local Independent Businesses In 2020

According to new data from Tyl by NatWest - where they explored purchasing habits during the pandemic – an estimated £7.2bn pounds was spent with local independent businesses in 2020. Clothing stores were ranked amongst the top 10 types of local business supported by UK consumers.

This data reinforces the benefits that our fashion businesses bring to UK high street consumers, and the need for the government to support our brick-and-mortar stores during the pandemic and post-Brexit period.

Other key findings include:

• 84% of UK respondents report actively supporting local independent business in 2020

• Nearly half of respondents (47%) think they could be doing more to support local independent businesses. A fifth (22%) said they plan to increase spending at local independent businesses ‘significantly’ in 2021

• When asked what would make them spend more at local independents, the most popular choices for consumers were an online presence 25%, loyalty schemes 23% and accepting card payments 21%

• 35% of respondents supported small business to support the local economy and create jobs

Fashion Roundtable is secretariat to the APPG Fashion and Textiles, where we do extensive work to protect the future of fashion and related industries. We advocate for policies that work with the fashion and creative industries and protect livelihoods and promote sustainability. The figures from Tyl show that our work is more important than ever before as we continue to highlight the contributions made by the industry and the very real need for support.