ondonis independent retailers are about to get big help as they deal with the pressure of rising inflation and the cost of living crisis.
Mary Portasthe broadcaster and high street consultant, has announced a new partnership with Ankorstore, an e-commerce wholesaler with a wide range of artisanal products that are often not available at major national and international chains.
“London is the largest shopping city in the world and small businesses are the absolute lifeblood of society. We can give them collective purchasing power,” Portas told the Standard.
“Even the big boys want to go back to the local because we’ve all realized this is the way we’re going to live. We will see the local economies recover better.”
Portas — who created the Mary Queen of Shops and What Britain Buys television series — will work with Ankorstore to produce reports and trend forecasts specific to the independent retail scene in the UK. There will be roundtable events for retailers to help them understand and adapt to the latest industry trends, just as rising inflation is intensifying competition for customers.
“Some of the biggest growth areas are the local butcher and greengrocer that have been able to supply and compete on price during Covid,” Portas says. “This is a suitable local economy for the way we live and buy today”.
Ankorstore said the partnership aims to “rewild” the retail industry by helping smaller stores scale their business via a low minimum spend of £100 and 60-day payment terms with 48-hour delivery. London partners include Soul Fruit, which also sells its sun-dried snacks in Selfridges, and UpCircle Beauty, a cosmetics brand that received backing from investors in the BBC business hit Dragons’ Den.
The company lists 20,000 entrepreneurial products behind a wide variety of goods, from Beeble premium honey-flavored spirits to vegan dog treats from Fin Museau. It was founded in France in 2019 and now operates in 33 countries. It is valued at €1.75 billion.