Consumers want more government support for the independent retailer [Infographic]

Awareness of smaller retailers is on the up, but winning the high street battle will come down to a niche product offering and a personalized shopping experience

Following countless announcements of high street store closures and a long line of large retailers reporting financial difficulties, new research from Pure360 has revealed that nearly three quarters (72%) of British consumers want the government to do more to back the growth of smaller, independent retailers.

The research, which commissioned YouGov to poll a representative sample of GB consumers, found that nearly half (42%) would consider shopping with an independent retailer because they prefer to support smaller operations over a larger retailer. In addition, over one in five shoppers said they like to compare price and product offerings between larger retail brands and independents, before going on to make the final purchase from the smaller retailer.

The surge in support for the more unknown retailers is due in part to the customer service they offer. Nearly half (43%) of respondents claim they would consider shopping with an independent over a larger retailer because they are treated as a valued customer rather than just a number. In a similar vein, 39% of consumers favour independents because of the personalized experience they receive, whilst the same proportion of respondents like them because they offer different products compared to larger retailers.

Awareness of the smaller operations is growing, with almost two thirds (63%) of consumers having heard of new independent retailers in the last 12 months. Some 39% of respondents have been introduced to these retailers by friends and family while 20% have discovered them through social media advertising.

Despite this, just 22% of British consumers currently opt to go to an independent retailer in the first instance to seek out an item, indicating that there is still work to be done if they are going to win over the high street giants.

According to nearly half (44%) of respondents, the main area for improvement for independent retailers is offering better value for money. This is followed by enabling consumers to shop in a way that best suits them through offering online and offline options (43%), making themselves more widely known through advertising and marketing (29%) and providing better delivery options (22%).

Komal Helyer, Marketing Director at Pure360 said: "We’re witnessing the emergence of a real David versus Goliath story within the retail industry, which consumers are clearly getting behind. Independents offer a niche product set, a more personalized experience and crucially, can adapt quickly to the changing needs and situations of a consumer. For many larger brands, this level of agility is insurmountable, making them look outdated and disconnected, which is leading to closures and collapses we’re hearing more and more about.

"For independents, there is a significant opportunity to serve a real purpose in the lives of consumers, if they understand what is achievable and the technologies available to do so. With the right technological support, brands can leverage data to demonstrate relevance, usefulness and offer a personalized experienced at every stage of the customer journey, enabling them to win the battle."

Find out more about the rise of the independent retailer with Pure360's infographic.