One in 10 corner shop owners say they would consider closing down if the Government’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill becomes law, according to new polling released today.
Ahead of the return of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to Parliament today (27 October), a survey of 500 corner shops has revealed thousands of stores are on the brink and could be pushed over the edge by further restrictions on their businesses.
The findings have prompted convenience retailer Paul Cheema, founder of retailer platform C-Talk and leader of the Protect Your Store campaign, to hand-deliver 1,435 signed letters from shop owners directly to Business Secretary Peter Kyle at Westminster.
The letters represent the growing frustration among convenience retailers nationwide who feel ignored despite repeatedly warning that the legislation could devastate local businesses and threaten jobs across the UK.
The survey of 500 corner shops, commissioned by C-Talk and carried out by Merlin Strategies, reveals that four in five (79%) retailers view the Bill as an unprecedented threat to their business.
More than a third (35%) said they would need to lay off employees or reduce hours, while over a quarter (26%) warned they would have to raise prices across the board to compensate. One in 10 retailers said they would consider closing their store permanently if the Bill becomes law.
The proposed legislation would restrict retailers’ ability to advertise smoke-free alternatives to tobacco and enforce an unprecedented generational smoking ban – measures retailers say will only push consumers towards the black market.
Four in five (76%) respondents fear the new rules will drive more people to buy illicit products, compared to just one in four (24%) who believe they will help smokers quit.
Corner shops are widely seen as vital parts of their communities – almost two thirds (59%) employ mothers, while a similar proportion (60%) provide jobs for young people. Nearly all retailers (95%) report that their shops are regularly used by older customers, and four in five (83%) say vulnerable members of the community rely on them.
Paul Cheema said: “Retailers are in a world of pain right now with higher NICs, higher business rates and higher wage costs all in the last year. On top of that, the government now wants to slap more regulations on us with their Tobacco and Vapes Bill – bringing in an unworkable generational ban and reducing access to information for those wanting to make better choices, all while failing to prevent the illicit trade.”
“We’ve written, we’ve called, we’ve tried every way we can to be heard – but the Government still isn’t listening. So, I’m taking things into my own hands and bringing all 1,435 letters straight to their doorstep. Retailers deserve to be heard, and this delivery makes that impossible to ignore.”
To send your own letter to the Business Secretary and join the growing movement of retailers speaking out, visit www.protectyourstore.co.uk.
For more information, please contact Paul Cheema
E-mail: paul.cheema@c-talk.co.uk
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