The impact of rising energy bills and higher business rates affecting businesses were discussed when Zaphar Iqbal, a member of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed), met with Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife last week at his Premier store at Lundin Links, near Leven.
Zaphar explained he had run the business for over 20 years and was a familiar face with customers, along with his wife Rehana and other staff. Whilst the business was particularly busy in the summer due to local tourists and had experienced especially strong trade during the lockdown caused by the pandemic, the past few months had been challenging as cost-of-living pressures hit customers over Christmas and New Year.
Chamberlain said: “It was great to catch up with Zaphar, who I’ve met before while visiting the shop. His passion for the business really shines through, but so do the challenges he and other small retailers are facing - from rising business rates following the revaluation to the difficulty of negotiating fair energy prices.”
Zaphar added: “It was great of Wendy to visit the business again and I appreciate the interest she’s shown in the shop and what it brings to the people of the village and the passing trade we receive. However, there clearly needs to be more done to deal with the cost pressures small shops like mine face.”
While Chamberlain represents the area in the Westminster Parliament, the discussion touched on issues the Fed shared in its recent manifesto for the Holyrood election, due on 7 May. It focuses on retail crime - particularly introducing retail security grants for small shops and enhancing neighbourhood policing – as well as controlling business rate rises and introducing a deposit return scheme in a way that’s cost neutral for retailers.
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