Here at SLR, if we aren’t writing about crime, we’re writing about cost increases or upcoming legislation. There’s no doubt about it, local retailers of Scotland have been having an incredibly tough time of late, with rocketing wage increases, reams of red tape and spiralling levels of shoplifting and violence.
While SLR is, of course, always on your side, championing your cause and venting your frustrations, we need your help to get the message across loud and clear to the powers that be that things have to change.
So we’ve teamed up with our friends at the Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) to encourage you to contact your local Member of Scottish Parliament (MSP) and invite them to your store, to let them see what it’s really like at the coalface.
SGF Chief Exec, Dr Pete Cheema OBE, says: “Just a few short years ago, we were applauded as the fourth emergency service, keeping the doors open and helping to protect the most vulnerable in our communities during the Covid pandemic.
“However, many stores are now struggling to keep the lights on. Alongside issues such as higher energy costs, inflation, and the cost-of-living crisis, our governments are piling on the pressure with hugely increased employment costs, restrictions across a range of product areas and reduced support with business rates.
“On top of that is the most important issue of our members, retail crime. Crime in stores, abuse of shop workers, and illicit trade, is now endemic in every city, town, and village in Scotland. Costing convenience businesses an average of £19,600 per year and threatening the safety and wellbeing of our hard-working staff.
“This joint campaign, delivered with the support of Scottish Local Retailer magazine, is designed to encourage MSPs to visit and support their local retailers and take their cause back to parliament.”
If you’d like to get involved, but aren’t sure how to get started, don’t worry, we’ve made it super easy. You won’t need to waste precious time composing a letter because the SGF has already crafted the perfect template, summarising all of the major concerns retailers are facing and inviting them to meet you in your store to discuss them in person.
Head to https://www.slrmag.co.uk/msp-letter/ and follow the simple instructions to locate your MSP’s contact details and download the template letter in MS Word format, ready to either post or email. You can tailor it to make it individual to your store, adding extra points you consider important, or just fill in your personal details and send it off.
If your MSP accepts the invite, an SGF representative will be happy to join you, if possible, to discuss the wider challenges facing the sector.
SLR is keen to report on the visit too if you’d like to share your experience with us.
One store that has already hosted a successful visit is Spar Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. Rachael Hamilton, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, visited the CJ Lang-owned shop at the end of March. The SGF was also in attendance and claimed that the meeting led to a very engaging discussion on issues impacting the sector, including the cost of doing business and retail crime.
So what are you waiting for? Access the MSP letter template and make sure you have your say on these crucial matters.