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Campaign groups and small business representatives have called on consumers to avoid this week’s Amazon Prime extravaganza and support small retailers.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the tech giant will host its annual Prime Day event, with thousands of tantalizing deals, many of them at half price.
However, activists are asking consumers to consider the plight of local businesses that were already struggling to compete with Amazon before the shutdown.
Ethical Consumer, which has long campaigned to persuade shoppers to boycott Amazon on the grounds that it aggressively avoids paying taxes, has urged online shoppers to stop, pause and “think about the cost of vital utilities before clicking to pay. “
Meanwhile, the British Association of Independent Retailers (Bira) has asked consumers to consider small retailers who need their support “more than ever” if their local high street is not to become a boarded-up wasteland.
Launched in 2015, Amazon Prime Day started as a flash sale of mostly tech products and typically occurs in July.
It has grown rapidly and last year’s Prime Day was the largest shopping event in the company’s history, selling more than 100,000 laptops, 200,000 televisions and more than 1 million toys.
To take advantage of the offers, customers must be Prime members, which costs £ 79 a year.
Tim Hunt, director of Ethical Consumer, said there were a number of reasons why consumers should take their business elsewhere.
“Aside from tax avoidance, Amazon has a dubious track record on many issues, including worker rights and the environment. We urge consumers to think about whether they really need to make that purchase on Amazon Prime Day, and instead how they can use their money in a way that benefits society and the environment.
“There are several more ethical reputable brands that pay a fairer tax rate, including Richer Sounds and Lush cosmetics (both have received the fair tax mark). We call on consumers who need to make purchases to seek more ethical companies like these. “
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said that nearly a quarter of independent retailers did not reopen after the shutdown, and many others came under great pressure.
“Despite the allure of the Internet, nothing can beat the positive experience of shopping at an independent local retailer knowing that money spent at a local store will in turn be spent on the local economy. Independent retailers are part of the community and need shopper support now more than ever, ”he said.
Main street closures in 2019
Thousands of street jobs have been lost as a result of high-profile retail managements in the past 12 months, and thousands more are at risk as Mothercare, Debenhams and Forever 21 prepare for shutdowns. These are some of the industry code names that have been affected.
Mother’s care: Have 79 stores Y 2,500 UK retail employees as his British arm prepares to enter administration.
Regis / Supercuts: Had 220 rooms Y 1,200 employees when he went into administration in October 2019.
Cheap: Had 318 stores Y 2,887 employees when it went into management in October 2019. It is still listing looking for a buyer.
Watt brothers: The chain of Scottish departments had 11 stores Y 306 employees when he went into management in October 2019. All stores closed and most jobs disappeared.
Links of London: With 35 stores Y 350 employees, the jewelry chain went into administration on October 8, 2019, but its sites are still trading.
Forever 21: Had three stores and about 290 employees in the UK when it went into administration in September 2019. Stores remain open to clear stocks.
Albemarle and Bond: Suddenly closes all your 116 stores in September 2019 with the loss of approximately 400 jobs, although he did not call the administrators. It sold its pledge books to rival H&T in the same month.
Karen Millen and Coast: Had 32 stores Y 177 concessions, using 1,100 people, when it went into administration in August 2019. All sites were shut down and the vast majority of staff were laid off after online specialist Boohoo.com bought the brands.
Jack’s Wills: Had about 100 stores Y 1,700 employees in the UK when it went into administration in August 2019. Bought by Sports Direct and 98 stores are still listed in the UK and Ireland.
Spudulike: Closed all 37 stores with the loss of approximately 300 jobs when he entered administration in August.
Bathstore: Had 132 stores Y 529 employees when it went into management in June 2019. Homebase bought 44 stores saving 154 jobs and the brand is now trading from 28 stores.
Please select: Had 180 stores Y 2,000 employees when the fashion retailer went into management in May 2019. In June, managers at consulting firm Quantuma carried out a CVA shutdown 11 stores with the loss of approximately 200 jobs.
Debenhams: Had 166 department stores and more than 25,000 employees when it went into administration in April 2019. No stores closed immediately and the chain is now owned by its lenders, but two closed before Christmas and another 20 will close in January when the group completes a bailout restructure that is expected to result in the waste of 1,200 jobs.
Pretty green: Had 12 shops and about 170 employees when Liam Gallagher’s fashion store went into administration in March 2019. All but one store and 33 concessions closed with 100 jobs lost but 67 saved since the brand was bought by JD Sports in April.
Office departure: Everybody 94 stores have closed with the loss of 1,170 jobs after the stationery retailer went into administration in March 2019.
LK Bennett: Had 41 stores Y 500 employees when it entered administration in March 2019. The brand was bought by its Chinese franchise partner, Rebecca Feng, saving 21 stores, all group concessions and 325 jobs. But more than 100 jobs lost with the closing of 15 shops.
Valerie Pastry: Had 200 coffees employing almost 3000 people when an accounting scandal prompted the chain to call administrators in January 2019. 70 of the group’s 200 stores closed immediately with loss of 900 jobs. About 2,000 jobs were saved when about 100 Patisserie Valerie coffees They were rescued by Causeway Capital, more than 20 of which have since closed. AF Blakemore & Son bought 21 Philpotts sandwich shops. and the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs purchased four Baker & Spice coffees.
Sarah butler
Meryl Halls, who heads the Booksellers Association, said the impact of the pandemic on main streets had been “catastrophic” for some and was an ongoing challenge for all retailers, including bookstores.
“It is crucial that consumers shop locally to ensure the future of the retail sector this Christmas,” he said. “Now there are even more ways to shop at local bookstores: booksellers have developed websites and adapted to offer phone, email and online ordering, with home delivery often an option. We actively encourage book lovers to start their Christmas shopping early to spread the demand. Buying locally and early will help secure jobs and support a thriving community on Main Street. “
During the lockdown, it emerged that Amazon buyers had spent nearly £ 9,000 per second on its products and services.
An Amazon spokesperson said this year’s Prime Day would see its “biggest small business promotion.”
“We are investing heavily in job creation and infrastructure across the UK – over £ 23bn since 2010. The UK has now become one of Amazon’s largest global hubs for talent and this year we announced plans to create 10,000 new jobs in the country by the end of 2020, bringing our total workforce to more than 40,000. This ongoing investment helped contribute to a total tax contribution of £ 1.1 billion during 2019: £ 293 million in direct taxes and £ 854 million in indirect taxes. “
