Small and vintage business numbers surge

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Sep 23, 2022

The number of small, independent fashion business — as well as those selling secondhand clothing — has surged in the UK in the past year, new data shows. 

Small business insurance provider Simply Business analysed 1,600 policies taken out over the past 12 months and said that the number of independent and local fashion businesses in the UK surged 23%.

The study also highlighted the focus on sustainability in recent periods. In fact, it cited search data and said that since this summer searches for sustainable fashion trends have seen a sharp increase, with searches for ‘second-hand clothing’ increasing by 50% and ‘vintage fashion’ increasing by 22%.

The number of small and secondhand-focused businesses that are opening is key because many of these see sustainable shopping and fashion as fundamentals and non-negotiable. 

The company didn’t give any reasons for the surge in small and secondhand businesses, although increasing interest in sustainability is clearly a factor as not only consumers but those entering the business world are more likely to have eco concerns front-of-mind.

The pandemic could also have played a part with workers seeing it as a watershed moment and one that could lead them to change professional direction. Plus it was a buoyant time for the launch of side hustles that could develop into full-blown businesses.