There were over 5.6 million small and medium-sized businesses in the UK according to 2021 government figures, as people up and down the country take on side hustles and start their own businesses in light of the cost of living crisis.
But many of these are undertaken from people’s spare rooms, kitchens, and studies. What about taking them to the next level and using up some of the 16% of UK high street shops that were empty in March 2021?
If you’ve been running a business from home but now want to open up high-street premises and make your mark on people in your town, city or village, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, learn what is needed to take your business to the high street.
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Why the high street?
If there are so many free units across the UK’s high streets, surely that spells doom for companies wanting to move to high street premises? Well, that’s only part of the picture.
Fresh on the back of the ‘we’re all in it together’ experience of the pandemic, small, independent businesses are being favoured by consumers.
Customers are favouring newcomers that are reinventing the high street by offering a first-class online store on top of a more experiential bricks-and-mortar offering in towns and cities.
Companies with a sustainable, social, community angle are also doing well – much more so than the sclerotic, faceless chains and department stores that have left such big gaps in high streets around the UK.
How to find and open a high street shop
If you want to take advantage of the renaissance taking hold in up-and-coming areas around the country, there are plenty of things to consider:
- Find your ideal location – Search for a great location for your business. Consider the specifics of your product, customers, and their parking requirements. Once you’ve got a shortlist, contact owners, and secure your property.
- Get shop insurance – Once you’ve acquired the location, it’s crucial you consider adequate insurance for your shop. If you own a business, you are legally bound to take out certain policies, so this is a must.
- Create a marketing strategy – While you’re planning the move, start to develop a marketing strategy to let previous customers and newcomers in kind understand where you’re moving to and what you do. Consider leaflets, social media adverts, and listings on Google and Yelp. Make sure to amend the details of any existing listings to show your new address too.
- Update clients on your move – If you have existing customers, use them to catapult your new business into the big time. Let loyal customers know where you’ve opened up shop and use their footfall to start your high street move on the front foot.
With the steps above, you should have the plan and knowhow you need to get set up on your local high street. Do you have any tips you’d like to share with our other readers? Let us know in the comments section.
