A Newcastle business is encouraging people to visit independent shops in their local area through a new campaign - one which carries a warning that shoppers need to act now before these unique stores disappear for good.
Flea Circus began life selling items on eBay and then at local markets, before opening on Warwick Street in November 2018. The unique independent department store has products from 40 small North East businesses under one roof, from furniture and homeware to comics, clothes, electronics and accessories.
Now co-founder Jess Penrose is on a mission to give other independent businesses the support they deserve - and that they desperately need, with the soaring cost of living dealing a second blow to small retailers that only just managed to survive the pandemic. The region’s independent shops are at a pivotal moment where many are facing uncertainty over whether they can stay afloat until Christmas.
READ MORE: Whitley Bay shop owner fears she will be 'forced to close' as she appeals to locals for help
“Independent businesses are not only dealing with the cost of living crisis - we’re all experiencing the higher prices of food, fuel and energy as well - but we’re also seeing a huge real-terms pay cut,” says Jess. “Really, it’s about survival for small business owners at the moment.”
Looking for a way to show some love to the region’s community of local sellers, Jess started up a campaign with the help of Holly & Co, a small business advice hub created by Not On The High Street founder Holly Tucker. Each year Holly & Co run a campaign encouraging people to change their shopping habits and help support independent retailers.
Armed with a placard from Holly & Co reading “Show Love, Shop Small”, Jess is embarking on a tour of small businesses around the North East to showcase all of the fantastic things they have to offer through Flea Circus’ social media pages. She has so far visited Bellwoods in Whitley Bay, Newcastle Wood Recycling in Walker and 109 General Store in Heaton, with more to come.
Jess hopes that showing off these businesses will help shoppers to see the benefits that can come from shopping locally, from finding unique treasures to playing their part in keeping their community thriving. “In Newcastle and the North East, we’ve got such a wealth of creative people,” she points out.
“There’s a lot of love that goes into it, and with that you get the quality that you wouldn't get on Amazon. Plus, you don’t get the same level of service from big-chain businesses as you do from a small business.”
Jess and her own small business are set to appear on Channel 4 this Sunday in My Second Hand Home, where two couples go head-to-head in an attempt to furnish an entire house using only second-hand products. The contestants from this week’s episode stopped by at Flea Circus to find some furnishings, where Jess helped them to restore and clean up furniture they’d bought.
The episode is further proof of the unique service that customers can get when they shop independent. “We go that extra mile to help people,” says Jess.
Supporting independent shops can also have a huge impact on an area, and even help with tourism - Jess cites the iconic Barter Books in Alnwick as a prime example - but without the support they need, small businesses could disappear from our streets, Jess warns.
“I know that everyone’s finding it really hard, because everyone’s watching their money,” Jess says. “But trying to include local businesses in your monthly living costs where you can - when you need to buy a present for someone, or even just buying greetings cards - will make the North East richer.
“We do have power in our pockets, and we can make a difference,” Jess urges. “If you can’t afford to shop at a small business, recommend a small business - leave a good review, share their social media posts.”
You can see which North East independent businesses are up next on Jess’ Shop Small tour over on Flea Circus’ Instagram page.
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