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| | | | 20/10/2015 | Drapers, Tara Hounslea - Number of indies drops for first time since 2012 | | | | | H1 2015 sees number of indies close more stores than they open | | | | | Drapers reports that research from The Local Data Company and British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has revealed that traditional independent retailers have closed more stores than opened them in UK town centres in the first half of 2015.
Women's clothing stores have been identified as the biggest sector in decline, with over 5% of independent womenswear retailers closing during the period, resulting in a net change of 89 stores.
There was a net loss of 144 independent stores (0.14%) across all sectors in the first six months of this year, compared with a net increase of 289 stores (0.28%) for the same period in 2014.
Multiple retailers remained in decline with a net loss of 437 stores (0.67%) in the first half of 2015, down from a net loss of 203 stores (1.17%) in the first six months of 2014.
The Northeast had the most independent stores opening with a net increase of 33 units at the end of June, while Greater London had the greatest decline of 175 stores.
Portobello Road in west London had the highest percentage of independent stores as a proportion of the total, at 94.8%, based on locations with more than 50 stores, while Ellenbrook in Hatfield was the town with the fewest at 16.9%. |
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