Results of a recent survery conducted by thebestof.co.uk hit national headlines this week after it was revealed that the majority of UK consumers feel that large supermarkets are directly to blame for the decline of their local high street.
Both The Sun and Conservative MP, Zac Goldsmith commented on the results of thebestof's 'buy local' survey, lending their support to local retailers in Chelmsford and across the UK as a whole.
The 'buy local' survey has run across thebestof Chelmsford site for several months, aiming to find out what local people thought about their local high street, who they thought was offering the best service and what the local authority could do to improve it.
The results of the survey showed that the majority of people across the UK believed their local high street was in decline due to competition from large supermarkets, and a further 60% agreed that the Government was not doing enough to encourage and support small, local retailers.
'thebestofchelmsford' owner and local business expert, Jason Plunkett, explained: 'It's interesting that there is still a strong perception that the high street is in decline - especially when it comes to local retailers and small businesses. With the rise in VAT next year, this could become an even bigger issue.'
'What shop owners need to understand is that there are many ways that they can compete with major chains. For example, by setting up special offers specific to the local area, and by building a reputation as a local champion, you can really capture the imagination of the community.'
For further information on the results of the survey and more tips on how to improve the image of your brand or business within the Chelmsford area, contact thebestofchelmsford owner, Jason Plunkett.
