News

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has teamed up with the social media experts from audience engagement platform Maybe* to launch new tools for retailers looking to make the most out of social media in their business.

Figures from the 2019 Local Shop Report show that Facebook is currently the most popular social platform for retailers with 39% using it in their business, followed by Twitter (27%), Instagram (11%) and WhatsApp (9%).

ACS has set out its recommendations to the Chancellor ahead of the 2020 Budget on March 11^th, calling for changes to policies on business rates, crime and employment costs to help boost the UK’s 46,000 local shops.

In the submission, ACS has urged the Government to give local shops and other small businesses the green light to invest without facing an increase in their rates bills as a result. Convenience stores invested £558m in their businesses in the year to November 2019, but this was down almost a quarter on the previous year.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) and SGF (the Scottish Grocers Federation) have issued a joint call to MSPs urging them to retain the Uniform Business Rate, highlighting the impact that it would have on convenience retailers if business rates were devolved.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a call for views launched by the Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee on the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill.

The Bill aims to increase protection for retail workers by:

The Government has confirmed that it will re-introduce the Environment Bill to Parliament, kick starting debate on the introduction of a deposit return scheme, reform of the PRN System and a new levy on single use plastics. 

ACS has warned that the legislation will pose operational challenges for local shops, especially around the details of a deposit return scheme which would require retailers to take back drinks containers in stores. ACS is working closely with Defra to shape the proposals.

Summit20 is an unmissable event for anyone involved with the convenience sector, bringing together retailers, suppliers, and industry experts from around the world to explore the successes and challenges of the industry and discuss new ideas retailers can walk away with.

This year's event, taking place on March 31st at the Vox in Birmingham, will focus on two of the biggest questions facing the convenience sector in the future, looking at whether convenience stores are primarily food retailers, and how the role of colleagues is changing in store.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is delighted to announce the finalists chosen to present at the upcoming Technology Showcase.

Taking place on 5th February in Birmingham, the event will bring together retailers and suppliers to hear first-hand about the latest innovations in technology which retailers can use to improve their customers’ shopping experience or help them with the day to day running of their store.

The finalists for the 2020 Technology Showcase, who will present their innovations to an audience of leading retailers on the day are:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is working with the Alzheimer’s Society to create 25,000 Dementia Friends in the convenience sector to help customers, colleagues and communities affected by dementia.

As part of the campaign, ACS is running a number of regional face-to-face training events which are free for members to attend.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is organising a trip for retailers to EuroShop, the world’s number one retail trade fair, taking place in Messe Dusseldorf from 17^th – 20^th February.

EuroShop provides retailers with the chance to see the latest innovations in the sector, upcoming trends and the chance to network with international industry professionals. The event brings together 2,300 exhibitors from over 60 countries.

The show explores eight key areas, including:

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is reminding retailers about the upcoming ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes which comes into force in less than four months.

The European Union Revised Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) makes it an offence for manufacturers to produce menthol cigarettes and retailers to sell menthol cigarettes from 20^th May 2020.