HIGH-STREET businesses are responding to the “toughest winter in memory” – with bosses rolling up their sleeves to pitch in and allowing struggling customers to pay what they can afford.
Researchers hit the streets to discover how the nation’s high-streets are coping with – and overcoming – record energy prices, staff shortages and reduced customer spending.
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Jon Shephard, the owner of Matches Sports Bar in Ashford, thought it was a “wind up” when he learnt about the massive 167% increase in his utility bills – while supplier costs for beer and menu ingredients were also on the rise, to the tune of 20% and 15% respectively.
In response, the bar looked to innovate to keep costs for punters down and teamed up with a local brewery to create their own house beer – which they are able to sell at a lower cost.
But alongside the constant battle with costs, during the busy World Cup period for the bar this winter, it was also dealing with a host of staff shortages due to illness.
To get through this, Jon took an all hands to the pump approach, putting himself in for the busiest shifts and to keep morale up, he promised an “epic” staff party at the end of the demanding period.
Keeping prices as low as possible is also a priority for hairdresser Jacqui Doherty, who runs The Village Salon in Middlesex.
She has taken the decision not to increase her prices, despite struggling with rising rent, utilities and stock over the course of the last 12 months.
Approaching 25 years in business, she has built up a loyal customer base with many retirees and has selflessly offered a “pay what you can afford” policy to those who are struggling financially.
However, due to the vulnerability of Jacqui’s clientele, many are still staying away because of the risk associated with coronavirus – which continues to add pressure to her business.
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John Baldwin, head of commercial banking at Santander UK, said: “It has been a series of unprecedented events for small businesses across the country, starting with the pandemic in 2020 through to the rising cost of living now.
“But what’s inspiring is how so many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are rising to the challenge, making smart changes to their business so they adapt successfully to the current climate, and also looking out for their customers and local community along the way.
“As we saw during the earliest stages of the pandemic, with the right support and adaptations to their business models, SMEs can go on to thrive, even during tough times for the economy.”
Alongside commissioning research of 750 retailers with a high-street presence, Santander UK also launched an SME Support Toolkit, which offers non-financial resources to help SMEs navigate and even grow through periods of economic challenges.
The study found the rising cost of living has made it harder for 65% to run their business – with 87% of these saying this winter has been the “toughest in memory”.
The most common negative impacts reported are rising energy costs (61%), followed by higher material costs (47%) and customers spending less (41%).
In response, 44% of those surveyed have taken measures which they would have previously viewed as uncomfortable to keep their business viable.
This included 29% negotiating tougher with suppliers and 23% trialling new business opening hours.
While 27% took out a bank loan and 21% used “buy now, pay later” to purchase business supplies.
Just outside of Newcastle, Sarah Bunn, the owner of Bunns of Brunton, has focused her efforts on peak business hours, and so far, has not passed on any costs to her customers.
The family-run coffee shop, which has had its profit margins hit due to rising costs of raw ingredients, like milk, butter and oil, has responded by introducing new cheaper deals and loyalty schemes to ensure she can keep costs low for her customers and footfall high.
Jon from Matches Sports Bar added that in light of the rising cost of living, he had “doubled-down” on the customer experience, trying to make sure everyone is getting as much value for money as possible.
But to keep things ticking over, Jon has pulled in favours from friends and family throughout this tough period – and even a few locals are pitching in to help out in exchange for “the odd free pint here or there”.
John Baldwin from Santander UK added: “The research has really highlighted the many ways in which the rising cost of living is affecting businesses – and the importance of adapting to current conditions, remaining agile and responding to customers’ needs.
“We would encourage any business to seek support at the first sign of difficulty.”
The research of retail businesses, conducted via OnePoll, went on to find that despite so many experiencing a raft of challenges, almost a quarter (24%) are optimistic about their business’ outlook for the rest of 2023.
Jon echoes this as he aims to establish his second Matches Sports Bar in Canterbury – bucking a trend in the hospitality industry.
While Jacqui from The Village Salon said her goal is to get back to pre-COVID levels of patronage, but she observed, “supplying a good service to people who rely on me is as important as making a huge profit – as long as I remain a viable business, I can always improve.”
