Look to the high street and you’ll find the future of British retail taking shape in the hands of small business owners. From roasting coffee to reimagining the umbrella – their flair, ingenuity and deep sense of community is quietly reinventing the high street in communities across the UK.
And championing these independent brands is retail expert Mary Portas in partnership with Mastercard and Worldpay. They have joined forces to show each and every one of us why it’s so important to support these retailers in the best possible way.
“The high street is the heartbeat of a neighbourhood,” says Simon Forbes, president of Mastercard UK and Ireland. “It brings the vibe, the personality – it’s where people bump into each other, grab a coffee, catch up. It’s about the shops but it’s also about the community.
“In Britain, there’s an incredible amount of innovation and entrepreneurship, and it’s vitally important that we all support the people with brilliant ideas who have the guts to make it happen.”
This supportive spirit goes beyond words for Mastercard and Worldpay and is reflected in the way they are taking action to give small businesses real-life opportunities to grow and thrive. That is abundantly clear in Manchester’s buzzing NOMA district where Thrive Street, a pop-up market curated by Portas, brings together 15 of the UK’s most innovative, community-driven independent retailers.
The brands – ranging from a supplier of bespoke lampshades to a spectacles maker – are spending a weekend showcasing their products, chatting to customers and sharing their unique stories. Mademoiselle Macaron sets tastebuds watering with its picture-perfect macarons in all the colours of the rainbow, Bird & Blend offers teas to suit every taste from breakfast to gingerbread chai and spiced pumpkin pie, while anyone feeling a tad chilly can pick up a colourful knit from Black & Beech.
At the opening, Portas reflects on the changing habits of British shoppers. Consumers, she says, are spending more mindfully and are more interested in the ethics of the businesses they buy from. With small retailers challenging traditional business and retail norms, every pound a customer spends is a “vote in how you want to live”.
“Small and growing businesses need more than applause; they need real support,” adds Portas. “That’s why we created Thrive Street 2025 together with Mastercard and Worldpay.”
Thrive Street is a celebration of retail: purpose-led, connected and bursting with fresh ideas. And the businesses gathered at Thrive Street Manchester embody that ethos – fuelled by passion, resilience and a belief in doing things differently.
After chatting to retailers, Forbes says: “What I’m hearing consistently is a real sense of excitement – not just about showcasing their products, but about connecting with new customers. There’s a strong entrepreneurial spirit here, and many are talking about how Thrive Street is helping them take their business to the next level.
“By supporting local independents, people are doing more than merely making purchases – they’re investing in their neighbourhoods. Thrive Street 2025 puts this spirit into action, and I’m proud we’re championing the businesses powering Britain’s high streets,” he says.
Among them is Jas Gill, founder of Inara, which creates luxury pyjamas, bedding and clothing. He describes Thrive Street as a “great recognition” of his work. The colourful prints and lightweight fabrics, inspired by summers in India, are now finding a broader audience thanks to the event’s spotlight.
“It’s kind of a switch from the high street as it used to be,” he says. “We supply garden centres, for example, and they’re really thriving. And we supply a lot of boutiques, and they’re really thriving.”
As they have grown, many of the brands have turned to technology from Mastercard and Worldpay to manage payments and other aspects of their businesses. Chris Wood, general manager for small and medium business international at Worldpay, says that speaking with business owners at Thrive delivered valuable insight into what’s working, what’s challenging, and what companies need to grow.
“These conversations also highlight the passion and resilience behind each business, reminding us why our mission to empower SMBs really matters,” he says. “One standout moment was being told by a business owner how when they upgraded their payment system they went from struggling with manual transactions to managing high volumes smoothly – freeing up time to focus on growth and customer experience.”
The importance of feeling seen and supported is reflected in the experience of Alli Briaris, the founder of Drinks Kitchen, whose display of artfully arranged ornate bottles of non-alcholic aperitifs catch the eye.
Briaris, who launched the business in 2021, previously worked in the wine industry. During the pandemic, she realised that she was ready for a new challenge: to create drinks for consumers who want to cut down on their alcohol intake.
Being selected for Thrive Street has reinforced her belief in what she’s building. “Someone has noticed I am here and I’ve got a good business and my product looks great. It reinforces my drive to keep going.”
Here’s your chance to check out – and support – the independent retailers who took part in Manchester Thrive:
The Biskery, Fill Refill, Lotti & Wren, Inara Loungewear, Feature Lighting, Hello Time, Mademoiselle Macaron, Soaked Umbrellas, Black & Beech, Drinks Kitchen, Mouse Kingdom, Sainte Cellier, Bird & Blend Tea, Kirk & Kirk, North Star Roast.
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