Town wins prestigious recognition for best independent shops

22 June 2023

The town centre has been named amongst Holly Tucker’s best independent high streets in the UK.

Holly Tucker MBE has launched Holly & Co’s campaign Shop Independent, to shine a light on UK small businesses and to encourage consumers to vote with their money and support independents on Shop Independent Day, Saturday 24 June.

As part of her campaign, Holly, founder of notonthehighstreet and Holly & Co, has named Darlington town centre as amongst the best independent high streets in the UK, a shining example of what the UK can’t afford to lose and what shopping small is all about.

Shops across the town centre will be receiving special flags to fly the mark the achievement and Holly will talk to town centre manager, Alex Nicholson, live on Instagram on Friday 23 June.

Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy said: “Darlington is a treasure trove of fantastic independent retailers so I wholeheartedly support Holly & Co’s Shop Independent Day and we are delighted to receive this recognition from Holly Tucker. It will be wonderful to see the flags flying through the town, highlighting the vast array of shops which stem from the boundless creativity and enterprising spirit we have throughout the town. I encourage everyone to buy local even if it’s just one or two items a week. We should all get behind our local independent shops to help them flourish.”

Gemma Whiteley, owner of preloved and homemade children’s wear shop, Stork and Thereafter in Queen’s Street Shopping Centre said: “We are really looking forward to flying the Campaign Shop Independent flags for small businesses for #ShopIndependentDay on Saturday 24 June. We're just one of the many independents in this fantastic town, so we'll be flying the flag for all of Darlington's indies."

Helen Sullivan, from Echo 3 coffee house and roastery in Clark’s Yard said: “Echo 3 love being part of the ever growing independent businesses in Darlington. We will be flying the flag with pride on Saturday in support of all the small independent businesses that make our town such a great place to visit!”

On a nationwide level, Holly is deeply concerned for our UK small businesses, consumers and the UK economy, as the new Holly & Co British Small Business survey reveals alarming insights.

Holly Tucker MBE, founder of Holly & Co, said: “It is deeply concerning that almost a quarter (24.1%) of small businesses in our Holly & Co Small Business survey told us they are unsure if they will still be trading this Christmas.  Moreso, it breaks my heart that 96.4% told us that a major challenge is that they are fighting a losing battle against social media algorithms.

"Holly & Co knows that Brits love and appreciate small businesses, they bring much needed colour, creativity, inspiration and innovation to communities right across the UK, which is why I’m absolutely determined that the launch of £shines a bright light on our amazing independents. We are calling on consumers to help their favourite small businesses ‘beat the algorithm’ by cheerleading for their favourites across their social channels using #CampaignShopIndependent, inspiring friends to shop small and support fantastic independents.

"Times are undoubtedly tough, so it’s more vital than ever that Campaign Shop Independent also encourages the great British public to truly realise the value of their spending power, and choose to spend their precious pounds supporting our amazing independent British businesses, especially on Shop Independent Day on Saturday 24 June. Use them or lose them, before it’s too late. Support #ShopIndependentDay”

Holly & Co, founded by Holly Tucker MBE, surveyed small business owners from across the UK to understand their challenges as well as their optimism about the future. The survey findings indicate a real ticking time bomb for both UK small businesses and potentially the UK economy:

Almost a quarter (24.1%) of British small businesses are either unsure (18.4%) or will not be trading (5.4%) at Christmas 2023
83% of British small business founders have found the last 12 months challenging (46%) or extremely challenging (37%)
62% of British small business owners are considering a secondary income to to supplement their income
63% believe UK consumers care about shopping from a small business, however only 30% believe UK consumers actively vote with their money to support small businesses.

Small businesses and supporters can follow @hollytucker #CampaignShopIndependent #ShopIndependentDay or see holly.co for the latest updates, find a Campaign Shop Independent high street near you, and find ways to show support for your favourite small businesses.

About Holly Tucker MBE, founder of notonthehighstreet and Holly & Co:
Host of the hugely popular podcast Conversations of Inspiration, Sunday Times best-selling author of Do What You Love, Love What You Do, and UK Ambassador to Creative Small Businesses, Holly is the ultimate cheerleader for British small businesses. Holly passionately believes in the colour and creativity that small businesses bring to the UK’s high streets and homes, and continually strives to celebrate and shine a light on the talent, passion, resilience, colour and creativity of the UK’s incredible small independent business owners, founders and makers, whilst encouraging Brits to shop with love and care by supporting small businesses, now even more than ever.

About Campaign Shop Independent: #CampaignShopIndependent

Back for its sixth year, Campaign Shop Independent is a nationwide campaign by Holly & Co, shining a light on creative small businesses and all those who have dared to dream and start their own businesses. Empowering founders with the inspiration and tools, to help encourage everyone to shop small and vote with their money this festive season. Spearheaded by Holly Tucker MBE, the campaign is supported by Dell.

Small Business statistics from UK Government report, 6 Dec 2022:

In 2022 there were 5.5million small businesses (with 0 to 49 employees), which is over 99% of all businesses
Small businesses employed 12.9million people, which is 61% of UK business employment
Small businesses turnover was £1.4Billion which is 34% of all UK business turnover
If every adult in the UK (583.6m) spent just £1 with small businesses this #ShopIndependentDay we’d generate £583million for small businesses!

Holly & Co surveyed small business owners from across the UK to understand their challenges as well as their optimism about the future. The survey findings indicate a real ticking time bomb for both UK small businesses and potentially the UK economy:

Almost a quarter (24.1%) of British small businesses are either unsure (18.4%) or will not be trading (5.4%) at Christmas 2023
83% of British small business founders have found the last 12 months challenging (46%) or extremely challenging (37%)
62% of British small business owners are considering a secondary income to supplement their income
63% believe UK consumers care about shopping from a small business, however only 30% believe UK consumers actively vote with their money to support small businesses.