Running an independent retail business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also bring significant pressure. Rising costs, retail crime, staffing challenges, changing legislation and the day-to-day responsibility of keeping a business running can all take their toll.
Retail Family was created to make sure retailers have somewhere to turn when those pressures become difficult to manage.
What is Retail Family?
Retail Family Online Safe Space was founded by a group of retailers who found themselves asking a simple but important question:
“What support is out there for retailers who face mental health struggles?”
Rather than waiting for an answer, they created their own.
The result is a safe and welcoming environment where retailers can talk, listen and share their experiences with others who understand the realities of working in the industry.
More than 500 retailers have attended Retail Family calls, with many returning regularly to discuss their concerns, share experiences or simply listen without judgement.
The community has also moved beyond the online space. In May, Retail Family held its first in-person event, bringing together more than 60 retailers and industry allies for a memorable day at Manchester United.
Retailers Supporting Retailers
Independent shop owners and franchisees often operate in high-pressure environments. Staff, customers and suppliers may all look to the retailer for answers, leaving business owners with few opportunities to talk about their own concerns.
Retail Family provides a place where those pressures can be shared.
As the group often says, “retailers get retailers.”
The people on the call understand many of the challenges participants are facing because they have experienced the realities of retail themselves.
Retail Family is not a mental health practitioner or professional counselling service. Instead, it offers peer support, real-world experience and, sometimes most importantly, a friendly ear.
There is no pressure to share more than you are comfortable with.
How Does the Retail Family Online Safe Space Work?
Retail Family hosts an online Zoom call every Monday between 7pm and 9pm.
The sessions are hosted by retailers who have received mental health training, and any independent shop owner is welcome to join.
The format is deliberately simple. You can join for a short time or stay for the full session, and you can share as much or as little as you want.
Conversations can cover anything causing worry or concern, whether it is related to running a business or something happening personally.
Confidentiality is requested from everyone attending, helping create an environment where retailers can speak openly and honestly.
To join the next Retail Family Online Safe Space, scan the QR code below.
Why Retailer Mental Health Matters?
The pressures facing independent retailers continue to grow.
Retail crime, staffing challenges, increasing running costs and new legislation can add to the everyday demands of operating a store. At the same time, professional mental health and social care services continue to face significant demand.
Retail Family is designed to provide a supportive starting point: somewhere retailers can talk about what is happening, connect with their peers and get things off their chest.
Mental health charity Mind estimates that one in four people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year. For an industry made up of thousands of independent business owners, the importance of having accessible peer support should not be underestimated.
A Community That Understands
One retailer who has participated in Retail Family described the community as:
“Retail Family is a fantastic peer support network for independent retailers. It’s great to have an open and honest space in a stressful industry where you can feel alone. I would advocate this hub to any retailer who wants to be heard and listened to by people who know exactly what they might be going through.”
Sometimes having someone who understands the situation can make a real difference.
If the pressures of running your store are building up, or you simply want to connect with other people in the industry, Retail Family is there to listen.
ShopMate is Proud to Support Retail Family
At ShopMate, we work closely with independent retailers every day and understand that running a store involves much more than simply managing the business.
We are proud to support Retail Family and help raise awareness of the Online Safe Space and the support available to retailers across the industry.
Initiatives like Retail Family are an important reminder that retailers do not have to face every challenge alone. Sometimes having the opportunity to talk to someone who understands the pressures of retail can make a real difference.
Join Retail Family
The Retail Family Online Safe Space takes place every Monday from 7pm to 9pm via Zoom.
Independent shop owners are welcome to join, whether you want to talk, listen or simply find out more.
Scan the QR code to join the Retail Family Online Safe Space.
