The scenes of violence and disorder broke out in Belfast on Saturday 3^rd August, after an anti-immigrant demonstration started at Belfast City Hall and moved to surrounding streets in the city.

The disorder and distressing scenes continued throughout the evening, with business premises and shops attacked and set on fire. A second night of violent scenes occurred on Monday 5^th August, with police attacked and further attempted attacks on Belfast businesses.

In the wake of the incidents, business owners spoke of their fears, with one revealing they would not reopen their business.

In a joint statement, the First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said they had spoken to the Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

“While people are entitled to take part in peaceful protest there is no justification for racism or for the violence and intimidation that occurred on our streets,” read the statement.

‘ZERO TOLERANCE’

“We have spoken to the Chief Constable and offered him our full support and we pledged to work to deliver a shared, peaceful and inclusive society.

“There must be a zero tolerance approach to racism and wanton destruction. Nobody should have to live in fear or threat of violence.

“Again, we would appeal to anyone with information to contact the PSNI.”

In stark contrast to the attacks, a GoFundMe page set up to raise money to “help repair racially motivated damages” has reached over £100,000. The page was established to help the many businesses in the community which were affected by the protests in Belfast.

Since the attacks, the Fed (formerly the National Federation of Retail Newsagents) has written to their members stating they are working to help members who have been affected.

In a letter issued by Mo Razzaq, National President of the Fed, they said they were collating member experiences to raise awareness of issues faced by independent retailers and make requests to the government.

SUPPORT AVAILABLE

“We also offer practical recommendations on what to do next with regards to making an insurance claim, legal advice and seeking support from the NFRN Charitable Funds,” he said.

“If your shop has suffered any damage, Retail Mutual advises contacting your insurance provider as soon as possible so that you can reinstate your damaged shop and continue trading quickly.”

The District President Julie Brown, who owns Livingstone’s Newsagents in Comber, said she was “saddened by the disturbances in Belfast and further afield”.

“It is particularly hard trading currently, and seeing your business ravaged in minutes is very disturbing,” she said.

Avenues of support available to members include:

• NewstrAid’s Retailer Support Scheme for emotional and financial support outside the business: https://www.newstraid.org.uk/retailer-support-scheme
• GroceryAid for emotional, practical and financial support for grocery people: https://www.groceryaid.org.uk

The Fed said it is in contact with the other business bodies and the government and will update members if any other support becomes available.

It added that Stephensons Solicitors LLP, the Fed’s legal helpline provider, advises:

• Check your insurance policies to see whether they have cover in place to cover damage for any loss.
• In the event of a shop closure, check if your insurance covers loss of salaries/loss of trade.
• Carry out appropriate risk assessments for staff to ensure as much as possible their health and safety is prioritised.
• Check any lease of premises and see who is responsible for damage in these scenarios i.e. landlord/tenant

The post Fed issues letter of support for retailers affected in weekend riots first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

From Saturday 22^nd April, Monday to Friday editions will rise by 30p to £2.80. Both the Saturday publication and Sunday’s The Observer will also increase by 30p and will both cost £3.80.

At the same time, the percentage margin that retailers receive for selling the newspapers will decrease to 21.5% on weekday editions, 21% on Saturdays and 23% on Sundays.

In a letter to retailers, the Guardian blamed the terms cut on ‘record’ increases to the cost of paper.

‘RISKY STRATEGY’

Now, the Fed’s National President Jason Birks has written to the Guardian’s chief financial and operating officer, Keith Underwood criticising the move.

Mr Birks warned: “Neither retailers nor their customers will take this news well.

“For retailers, this could mean reviewing the profitability of selling the Guardian against other product categories and for customers it could mean buying the paper on fewer days of the week.

“Given the low circulations of the Guardian and Observer, this is a risky strategy indeed, which is why I have written to Mr Underwood.

“The Guardian needs to be aware that while the Fed remains keen to actively promote print, not just to our many thousands of members but to readers too, retailers need to be rewarded properly to do so.”

The move by the Guardian comes a matter of weeks after the Daily Mail announced it was increasing the cover price of its weekday editions and cutting the percentage margin that retailers receive.

‘For retailers, this could mean reviewing the profitability of selling the Guardian against other product categories’

This news followed a previous introduction of enhanced payments for retailers supporting the Mail’s new subscription scheme. The scheme gives enhanced payments to home news delivery operators and means an end to paper vouchers.

From Monday 3^rd April the Monday to Friday editions of the Daily Mail rose by 10p to £1, with the Mail saying that “market conditions have meant that we have had to reduce the percentage margin to 21.8%”.

Responding at the time, Jason Birks said Fed members were facing “considerable financial pressures too”.

“Besides facing the cost-of-living crisis, supply issues and sky-high energy bills, on 1^st April our wage bills will be rising, and customers served by Menzies Distributions will see their carriage charges increase too.

“To give on one hand with its enhanced payments and then to take with the other, by cutting our terms, is a bitter blow.”

The post Guardian criticised for following the herd and cutting terms first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The posters advise that from April 1 2022 carrier bags will cost 25p.  They can be downloaded from the Fed’s website at www.thefedonline.com.

The increase to the carrier bag levy was announced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in November.  It said that doing so would further protect the environment and encourage consumers to reuse their carrier bags.

The Fed challenged the drastic increase when advised by environment minister Edwin Poots MLA in November 2021. DAERA was warned that while the increase was beneficial from an environmental standpoint, it would impact on independent retailers at a time of great financial uncertainty.carrier bag levy

25p

Commenting on the increase, former Fed Northern Ireland president Judith Mercer said: “From an environmental standpoint, it makes sense.  We want there to be less plastic, but this price increase is a big jump.”

The post The Fed creates posters to help retailers prepare for carrier bag price hike first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

From Saturday, March 12, the UK’s best-selling Saturday and Sunday newspapers will be increasing their cover prices by 10p each day.

Saturday’s Daily Mail will move to £1.20, with The Mail on Sunday increasing to £1.90. The same applies to Saturday’s Scottish Daily Mail, The Scottish Mail on Sunday and the weekend editions of the Irish Mail, in Northern Ireland only.

Copies of the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People will also go up from £1.90 to £2.

Retail margins will be maintained, with pence per copy sold increasing pro rata.

The Fed’s National President Narinder Randhawa said: “This is great news. At a time when The Telegraph is reducing its profit margins for retailers, it is pleasing to see that DMG Media and Reach recognise the importance of all parts of the supply chain working in harmony and are listening to meet the expectations of retail partners.

“We urge our members to confirm their support for these best-selling titles by positioning them prominently on their displays to drive sales event further.”

The post Independent retailers welcome weekend paper price increases first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The publisher has also decided that from September the percentage terms that retailers receive for handling the publication on weekdays and Saturdays will be reduced to 20 per cent. The margin for handling the Sunday edition will be maintained at 20.5 per cent.

Responding to the news, the Fed National President Narinder Randhawa said: “While the cover price increases are welcome, we are disappointed that, once again, the Telegraph is hitting retailers in their pockets with yet another cut to our percentage trading terms.

“Despite repeated conversations with the Telegraph, we are equally dismayed that any ‘improvements’ to our margin payments are being delayed for six months.”

Mr Randhawa added: “Only last month, and at the Fed’s newspaper summit in London, we listened as the Telegraph’s CEO Chris Taylor insisted that the printed word had a bright future as he updated retailers, news wholesaler and his publishing colleagues on its subscription strategy and the importance of our support in achieving that.

“This latest decision to accompany these price increases with a cut in our terms and deferred payment is a bitter blow – especially as they come at a time when our costs are rocketing, and we have no way of passing these increased costs on to our customers.

“This annual cycle of terms cuts and deferred payment needs to stop.  It leaves a sour taste in retailers’ mouths.  We would politely ask Telegraph Media Group to reconsider on both the terms and deferred payment fronts.”

Mr Randhawa continued: “Decisions like these leave me to question my commitment to the news category.  It is time that publishers like TMG understand the precarious financial position that moves such as these make to our members.  It is also time that the Telegraph looks to other categories in our members’ stores that work with us in true partnership.”

The Fed head of news Brian Murphy said: “While many members do support the Telegraph’s subscriptions first strategy, they still have a number of customers who prefer to purchase their newspaper in the more traditional manner.  It is unfair to expect these retailers to wait six months to be paid for this.”

From Monday, in England, Scotland and Wales the weekday cover price will rise by 30p to £2.80; the Saturday newspaper is going up 50p to £3.50p and the cost of the Sunday Telegraph will be £3.00.

In Northern Ireland, weekday editions will cost £3, the Saturday edition is rising a whopping 80p to £3.80 and the Sunday Telegraph will cost £2.70.

In the Republic of Ireland, the cost of both weekday and Saturday editions are rising but the cover price of the Sunday Telegraph will remain at €3.  The new Monday to Friday price will be €3.20, while the Saturday edition is increasing to €4.

The post Dismay from retailers as Telegraph raises cover price, cuts retail terms and defers payment first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.