BHETA is to support the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) with collaborative lobbying campaigns championing the indie retail sector.
“It is becoming more and more apparent that suppliers in gifts, housewares, small domestic electricals, garden and DIY sectors are recognising the importance of a thriving and experiential combination of high street and destination shops,” explains BHETA’s chief operating officer Will Jones. “Bira has been running successful campaigns for retailers for many years and it is time that BHETA also lent its support on mutual issues.
“Whether it’s business rates, minimum wage, employee law, theft, consumer ID, online or packaging responsibility, these all impact everyone and it’s important the two associations work together accordingly to support the sector.”
A successful lobbyist on behalf of suppliers, BHETA’s ongoing campaign on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) tax is a case in point. The Association’s latest campaign, which has clear implications for the independent retail sector, is on a sharp rise in B2C sales from overseas producers, and the threats posed to UK supply, retail and the UK consumer.
An estimated 100 million small parcel shipments arrived in the UK from overseas sellers in 2023, due to the rise of the internet, and the rise of shopping giants like Temu, Shein, Amazon and eBay. BHETA is calling for the UK government to significantly reduce the ‘De Minimis’ threshold for duty of £135.
Commented Bira’s ceo Andrew Goodacre: “It makes sense for associations to work together, especially where it is mutually beneficial. While Bira represents independent retailers, we also want to support the supply chain to these retailers. The issue of small parcels avoiding duty affects all of us. These parcels are not adding anything to the UK economy and action here would create more income for the UK government.”
Top: BHETA and Bira have joined forces to lobby the government on behalf of independents.
