Supplier of colourful jewellery, scarves and bags, Miss Milly has scooped the gong for Micro Business of the Year at the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Awards.
"We have previously been a finalist for Most Promising New Business," explains a delighted Sarah Watmore, Owner. "And after a strong period of sustained growth it felt like the right time to enter these prestigious, local awards again. I am over the moon that our consistency, passion, evolution and success has been formally recognised."
Judged by representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Luke Elliott from the Worcestershire Growth Hub, Sarah was presented with her award at a sparkling magic-themed evening at the Worcester Arena.
Posted: 25 June 2025
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
Following a strong period of wholesale growth across the UK, The British Hamper Company has announced ambitious plans to partner with over 170 retailers by the end of 2025.
The milestone reflects the increasing demand for the company's artisan food and drink range and a growing appetite for premium, British-made gifting products.
Since launching its own-brand retail range in Autumn 2024, the Lincolnshire-based business has seen more than 28,000 gift tins reach homes across the country. This consumer enthusiasm has translated into rising interest from stockists, with the wholesale division rapidly expanding its presence in key retail sectors.
The brand's award-winning range is already proving popular at leading garden centres.
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
Annual figures released by the British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA) and Circana, have revealed that toys under £15 continue to rise in popularity in today's challenging economic climate.
Officially unveiled at Toy Fair at Olympia London, the latest statistics show that 47 percent of the UK toy market in 2024 was dominated by sales under £15, which equated to 80 percent units overall. Meanwhile, Pocket Money toys costing less than £10 took up 28 percent of market share.
These are predominantly made up of classic lines like Paw Patrol Vehicles and Pup from Spin Master Toys, Dobble from Asmodee, and Sea Monkeys from Bandai. The increasing popularity of Collectibles was important for driving sales of Pocket Money toys throughout the year, with the overall Collectibles sector generating 1 in 5 toy sales last year, with an average price of £7.59.
Posted: 24 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