ACS Reveals Poll Results at Most Successful Summit to Date
24 Apr 2008
At the annual ACS Summit, held in Birmingham today, Chief Executive, James Lowman addressed an audience of over 400 delegates, the biggest yet for the event, including some of the industry’s key players, retailers and suppliers. He revealed the detailed results of a recent comprehensive survey carried out by ACS on consumer attitudes to issues around local retailing.
“Summit 08 has been built around three key themes,” said Mr Lowman. “Community, Environment and Innovation. In April we commissioned a poll from GfK NOP of over 1000 people and asked them for their views on retailing in relation to these themes. The results shed new light on some of the key issues affecting convenience retailers.”
Environment
The headline finding from the poll in relation to the environment is that 59% of people think that local shops should charge for carrier bags.
James Lowman continued: “Customer’s views and attitudes are changing; even very recently we could not have imagined that a majority of people would back a charge on carrier bags. Carrier bag waste is a problem that we can address and working together with customers we can achieve a dramatic reduction in their use and their impact. The poll demonstrates that retailers should be considering how they can make their businesses greener and do so in a way that means they reap the benefits, not only in cost savings but in local marketing as well.
“This evidence is not sufficient to suggest that the introduction of charging for carrier bags is right for every business, but it does suggest that many more retailers can and should give it serious consideration.”
Other key attitudes to the environmental questions are:
o 64% of people would be prepared to pay more for locally sourced products such as milk, bread and vegetables.
o 64% believe that people should use their car less when shopping, although 71% of these were men and only 57% were women.
o However 64% of the same people asked opposed the introduction of parking charges at out of town supermarkets as a way of discouraging car use.
As part of the environmental debate at Summit, delegates heard about excellent green ideas and innovations from retailers in the sector, notably through three films of local retailers showing ideas that delegates could apply in their own businesses to drive forward the green agenda and save costs. In addition delegates heard the challenging and inspiring views of Friends of the Earth’s Tony Juniper, demonstrating the priority that ACS is giving to the environmental movement in the sector.
Community
The role of the local shop in the community was another key theme at Summit 08. Delegates saw inspirational video case studies based on the experiences of three independent retailers, Martin Lovell of Shobden Stores, Appean Sharma of Costcutter, and Jonathan James of James Graven & Sons.
Underlining the theme were the results of the poll in relation to the community, which showed that 65% of people thought that their local shop increased their sense of community. This number went up significantly among the older age group with 71% of the over 65’s feeling that it increased their sense of community.
James Lowman continued: “We know that the local convenience store is hugely important to older people because it is easy to get to and offers a lifeline, and the figures support this. What was also interesting was that when asked if ownership of the store was important, 65% of all respondents said it didn’t matter, but views changed considerably when asked who they would prefer to run or own their local shop with 52% preferring an independent retailer, and only 17% wanting a major supermarket chain. The personal touch that independent retailers provide is clearly still important to people, and this is where our sector will always have an advantage over the major supermarkets.”
Other results from the poll showed that people look to parents and the police to take responsibility for tackling the problem of under-age street drinking in communities, with 54% of people believing parents should take the greatest responsibility for this problem. 26% of respondents singled out the police as being most responsible, and only 9% identified shops and supermarkets as being chiefly responsible for the problem.
“It is very important to keep a handle on what people think, and not simply on what the national media and politicians portray as the public’s view,” continued Mr Lowman. “The most emphatic finding from this polling exercise is the sense of parental accountability for underage drinking. This is a message that the Government should listen to.
“What our research also shows is that the public aren’t fooled by the Government’s persistent attacks on our sector in the media. Sooner or later the Government is going to have to confront what the public know is the biggest cause of the problem. More needs to be done to educate parents and bring light to the real issue of proxy purchasing, along with ways of dealing with the problem of violence and abusive behaviour towards shop staff.”
Other results of the poll showed that 64% of people believe that their community does not suffer from under age street drinking, but that 54% felt that retailers could do more to tackle this problem.
James Lowman continued: “Retailers must not be complacent. Our focus has to remain on every store implementing a No ID – No Sale policy, asking everyone who looks under 21 for proof of age, and training staff rigorously to eradicate under age purchases.”
Innovation
One of the key aims of this year’s Summit was to provide delegates with ideas, practical advice, support and most importantly, the inspiration to make their business more successful. To demonstrate how innovation can be applied in a business and reap rewards, presentations were given by entrepreneur and ex-‘dragon’ Simon Woodroffe, who founded the successful restaurant chain, Yo! Sushi, and James Perry from COOK, the family-run business that specialises in quality hand-made ready-meals.
“These two inspirational speakers embody innovation at its most successful,” said Mr Lowman. “Our audience, the biggest yet, was able to hear how they applied their ideas and turned them into thriving enterprises, and we hope that these presentations together with everything else we have heard today from our fantastic speakers will encourage retailers to have the courage of their convictions and build even better businesses for themselves.”
Contacts:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001/ 07921 372 978
Nina Collins Communications Coordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton/ Grappa PR
020 7602 9222
Notes to Editors:
1. ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) is the voice of local shops, representing over 33,000 convenience stores. ACS helps local shops thrive through lobbying, support and networking opportunities.
2. Polling was conducted by independent polling experts GfK-NOP over the weekend of the 4th-6th April 2008. The survey interviewed 1000 adults aged 16 and above. Quota controls were set by sex, age, social class and region to ensure the sample is nationally representative of adults in telephone owning households in the UK.
“Summit 08 has been built around three key themes,” said Mr Lowman. “Community, Environment and Innovation. In April we commissioned a poll from GfK NOP of over 1000 people and asked them for their views on retailing in relation to these themes. The results shed new light on some of the key issues affecting convenience retailers.”
Environment
The headline finding from the poll in relation to the environment is that 59% of people think that local shops should charge for carrier bags.
James Lowman continued: “Customer’s views and attitudes are changing; even very recently we could not have imagined that a majority of people would back a charge on carrier bags. Carrier bag waste is a problem that we can address and working together with customers we can achieve a dramatic reduction in their use and their impact. The poll demonstrates that retailers should be considering how they can make their businesses greener and do so in a way that means they reap the benefits, not only in cost savings but in local marketing as well.
“This evidence is not sufficient to suggest that the introduction of charging for carrier bags is right for every business, but it does suggest that many more retailers can and should give it serious consideration.”
Other key attitudes to the environmental questions are:
o 64% of people would be prepared to pay more for locally sourced products such as milk, bread and vegetables.
o 64% believe that people should use their car less when shopping, although 71% of these were men and only 57% were women.
o However 64% of the same people asked opposed the introduction of parking charges at out of town supermarkets as a way of discouraging car use.
As part of the environmental debate at Summit, delegates heard about excellent green ideas and innovations from retailers in the sector, notably through three films of local retailers showing ideas that delegates could apply in their own businesses to drive forward the green agenda and save costs. In addition delegates heard the challenging and inspiring views of Friends of the Earth’s Tony Juniper, demonstrating the priority that ACS is giving to the environmental movement in the sector.
Community
The role of the local shop in the community was another key theme at Summit 08. Delegates saw inspirational video case studies based on the experiences of three independent retailers, Martin Lovell of Shobden Stores, Appean Sharma of Costcutter, and Jonathan James of James Graven & Sons.
Underlining the theme were the results of the poll in relation to the community, which showed that 65% of people thought that their local shop increased their sense of community. This number went up significantly among the older age group with 71% of the over 65’s feeling that it increased their sense of community.
James Lowman continued: “We know that the local convenience store is hugely important to older people because it is easy to get to and offers a lifeline, and the figures support this. What was also interesting was that when asked if ownership of the store was important, 65% of all respondents said it didn’t matter, but views changed considerably when asked who they would prefer to run or own their local shop with 52% preferring an independent retailer, and only 17% wanting a major supermarket chain. The personal touch that independent retailers provide is clearly still important to people, and this is where our sector will always have an advantage over the major supermarkets.”
Other results from the poll showed that people look to parents and the police to take responsibility for tackling the problem of under-age street drinking in communities, with 54% of people believing parents should take the greatest responsibility for this problem. 26% of respondents singled out the police as being most responsible, and only 9% identified shops and supermarkets as being chiefly responsible for the problem.
“It is very important to keep a handle on what people think, and not simply on what the national media and politicians portray as the public’s view,” continued Mr Lowman. “The most emphatic finding from this polling exercise is the sense of parental accountability for underage drinking. This is a message that the Government should listen to.
“What our research also shows is that the public aren’t fooled by the Government’s persistent attacks on our sector in the media. Sooner or later the Government is going to have to confront what the public know is the biggest cause of the problem. More needs to be done to educate parents and bring light to the real issue of proxy purchasing, along with ways of dealing with the problem of violence and abusive behaviour towards shop staff.”
Other results of the poll showed that 64% of people believe that their community does not suffer from under age street drinking, but that 54% felt that retailers could do more to tackle this problem.
James Lowman continued: “Retailers must not be complacent. Our focus has to remain on every store implementing a No ID – No Sale policy, asking everyone who looks under 21 for proof of age, and training staff rigorously to eradicate under age purchases.”
Innovation
One of the key aims of this year’s Summit was to provide delegates with ideas, practical advice, support and most importantly, the inspiration to make their business more successful. To demonstrate how innovation can be applied in a business and reap rewards, presentations were given by entrepreneur and ex-‘dragon’ Simon Woodroffe, who founded the successful restaurant chain, Yo! Sushi, and James Perry from COOK, the family-run business that specialises in quality hand-made ready-meals.
“These two inspirational speakers embody innovation at its most successful,” said Mr Lowman. “Our audience, the biggest yet, was able to hear how they applied their ideas and turned them into thriving enterprises, and we hope that these presentations together with everything else we have heard today from our fantastic speakers will encourage retailers to have the courage of their convictions and build even better businesses for themselves.”
Contacts:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001/ 07921 372 978
Nina Collins Communications Coordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton/ Grappa PR
020 7602 9222
Notes to Editors:
1. ACS (Association of Convenience Stores) is the voice of local shops, representing over 33,000 convenience stores. ACS helps local shops thrive through lobbying, support and networking opportunities.
2. Polling was conducted by independent polling experts GfK-NOP over the weekend of the 4th-6th April 2008. The survey interviewed 1000 adults aged 16 and above. Quota controls were set by sex, age, social class and region to ensure the sample is nationally representative of adults in telephone owning households in the UK.