Independents to reveal truth of trading in the real economy.

Sales, overheads, people costs, buying prices are all under pressure, right across the retail landscape. bira is asking its members to take five minutes to tell the world how trade is on the High Street, right now, for independents, by taking part once again in its quarterly sales monitor survey.

The previous quarter's results revealed that in the balance of winners and losers the pain on the high street outweighed the pleasure. Detailed conclusions drew interest from financial, government and media.

Michael Weedon, Deputy CEO of bira commented: "This survey is unque in its focus on independents, which, it should be remembered, outnumber mulitples two to one in the towns of the UK. Weekly and monthly trading results from plcs are fleetingly interesting with their transitory ups and downs, but they do not reveal the real trends in the real economy: the bira survey does. We need every member to take part who can take part: the more responses there are, the more accurate the results - and the bigger the impact in the political and media spheres."

The survey, with its quick to answer questions, is here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BDJFN3C

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• company takeovers

  Posted by: ANDREW CRANE (ANDREW CRANE)

  We are seeing a worrying trend in the fishing tackle trade of established suppliers being taken by large foreign owned companies, and the first thing they seem to do, is bulldose a smaller discount and shorter credit periods onto existing customers. This is done after large stock orders have been placed with no consultation with customers. The attitude is "take it or leave it, we do not care, and if you do not agree, off you go" This is squeezing already tight margins, and boosts their margins. They appear to have no thought for the future of the tackle trade. Is this the correct way to do bussiness in times like we have at present? I think they will regret this in a few years time

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