The Interview: British Independent Retailers Association CEO Andrew Goodacre

In this episode of The Interview series, recorded at
Spring Fair 2022, host Karl McKeever is joined
by British Independent Retailers Association CEO Andrew Goodacre
and Jayne Weldon, ECommerce Manager of
new BIRA-backed online trading platform Neartoo -
launching this month, exclusively for indies. While The Retail
Exchange’s Mark Faithfull talks to Claire Leigh, founder of
award-winning independent retailer, Two Ducks.


During the pandemic, customers were increasingly keen to support
smaller, independent and community retailers. But will
bricks-and-mortar independent retail still be popular and
relevant as we move forward?


BIRA CEO Andrew Goodacre believes so. The noises coming
out of the sector suggests that shops are rising to the
challenge. And now it’s time to support them, in person
or through sensible online marketplaces.


This is, very much, the time for independent shops, run by
owners with passion and commitment, to seize the moment.