The British Shops and Stores Association (bssa), the leading trade association to offer unrivalled support and commercial advantage to small and medium- sized non-food retailers, is to produce its own quarterly sales monitor providing an alternative snapshot of the health of the high street from the unique perspective of the non-food independent sector.
Using data from both bssa members and non-members, the Sales Monitor will differ from the British Retail Consortium’s Retail Sales Monitor in several ways. Calculated on a quarterly rather than monthly basis, it will crucially not include sales returns from multiples or businesses operating in the food sector. For this reason bssa’s Sales Monitor will paint a more accurate picture of consumer spending and retail performance by sector and region for independent non-food retailers.
In addition to bssa members, businesses falling within the nonfood independent retailer category are also being encouraged to participate regularly in the survey, which will be hosted on-line and take just minutes to complete. With bssa currently representing around 4,000 members with a combined annual turnover exceeding £3 billion, any increase in the sample size would ensure the even greater credibility and relevance of the data.
John Dean, bssa Chief Executive, comments:
“This sales monitor of quarterly performance is a key element in bssa’s campaign to draw attention to the plight of the high street and the very real challenges facing many businesses. This more accurate representation will enable us to comment authoritatively on the performance of the high street from the small and independent retailers’ perspective, highlighting the issues which most impact upon them.”
The first survey for the new Sales Monitor covering the quarter ending September 2007 will be issued later this month via a link to a simple online pro-forma. Completed returns will be required by 14th October and the results will be made available by the end of that month, but only to those who participate. Any small or independent non-food retailer who would like to contribute should contact bssa on 01295 712277 or email info@bssa.co.uk as soon as possible. The link to the survey form will be http://www.britishshops.co.uk/sales_monitor/autumn_07.htm and this will be activated from 24th September 2007.
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