The co-owner of family run furniture store Worthington Brougham Furniture Ltd has called for a ‘unique’ approach to shopping in a battle to shift the consumer mindset.
Len Worthington, Director & Co-Owner of the Chorley-based retailer, recently shared his views on the state of small businesses, barriers to opening stores and what the term ‘family business’ actually means.
In a passionate plea to others in the industry and beyond, Len challenges to break the mould, make Britain ‘fairer’ and to shop ‘unique’.
“Shop unique before we end up with one giant megastore for all our needs,” states Len. “If you’re happy to keep buying the same ubiquitous products found in every big box store both physical and online, the high street, together with choice, will disappear altogether.
“The barrier to entry of most retail stores is huge, and the amount of money required to set up a physical shop is beyond what most families can afford. Even before we get into the cost of rent, rates and wages needed to keep said enterprise going, starting a business is an exhausting, expensive endeavour.
“Our desire to support smaller, local and family-owned businesses is subverted by corporations at every step. Worn out, misappropriated phrases like “family business”, when what they really mean is chain stores, or “sale” when what they really mean is that they cut their oversized margins to encourage spending and give the illusion of value.
“We in the business see every kind of underhand tactic, from companies rebranding as five different stores when they are in fact all the same with the same products and the same owners, to stores claiming to be family run when what they really mean is that they are privately owned.
“Sure, it’s convenient, when you can go to one store and find everything from margarine to t-shirts, but where is the quirky, the different, the unique? We are all to blame for allowing company directors and boards to dictate style and fashion, but isn’t choice just an illusion when we all buy goods from the same suppliers, served by robots?
“This isn’t a high street problem, it’s a problem for all small businesses, even those that are solely online. Big companies choke the market, making it all but impossible for smaller companies to be found.
“Dare to be different. Be a hero to your kids. Challenge the norm and endeavour to be and live unique.
“All of our towns and cities look the same. Without choice, that is the future we are heading towards – a future where all of your needs are provided by one of a handful of corporations, where there’s no room for smaller businesses to grow, where wealth inequality rises to a point where no-one can afford to even attempt to offer something new.
“Let’s change that, and shop family. Help save tax paying family businesses from bankruptcy, and do your bit to redistribute wealth in the UK. Make it a fairer and better place to live for all of us. It isn’t about saving the high street; it’s about saving the country – for a future where we have choices.
“I help run a small family business and we shop small. If you’re not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.”
