It’s that time of year when we reflect on the past twelve months, and we usually see plenty of superlatives from experts and commentators hailing the most significant change, the biggest, most profound impacts on the future. 2017, though, might just have earned the hyperbole where the convenience store sector is concerned.
Read MoreACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the publication of an Environmental Audit Committee report which calls for the introduction of a deposit return scheme for plastic bottles, urging the Government to consider the impact that DRS would have on small retailers.
Read MoreNutritional snack brand Pulsin is celebrating becoming the latest supplier member of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS).
British-based snack and protein powder company Pulsin, www.pulsin.co.uk, has become the latest supplier member of the Association of Convenience Stores. The brand recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a major rebrand.
Read MoreACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed an announcement from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which will ensure that everyone in the UK will be able to request high speed broadband by 2020.
In the 2017 Rural Shop Report, ACS highlighted the problems that retailers – especially the 19,000 convenience stores in rural areas - face when trying to invest in their business with substandard broadband speeds and called for the Government to deliver the Universal Service Obligation at a minimum spend of 10mbps.
Read MoreACS has welcomed Ofgem’s proposals to introduce a new 12-month backbilling limit for microbusinesses in response to their consultation on protecting non-domestic consumers who receive backbills.
The consultation follows ACS’ calls earlier this year for the regulator to take a more active role in protecting microbusinesses from lengthy backbills.
Read MoreACS has written to Nicky Morgan MP, chair of the Treasury Select Committee, calling for the Committee and the Payment Systems Regulator to carefully scrutinise LINK’s plans to reduce interchange fees for ATMs.
In the letter, ACS expresses scepticism at LINK’s claims that they intend to ‘retain an extensive network of free ATMs for consumers’, as a cut in the interchange fee would inevitably lead to a decline in the number of cash machines available for consumers.
Read MoreACS has welcomed the announcement of a permanent small business rate relief scheme and the extension of extra support for high street retailers in Wales, but has raised concerns about the limits being imposed on the type of business that will be eligible for relief under the new system.
Read MoreChristmas and New Years Eve often provide great opportunities for convenience store retailers to maximise their sales through seasonal products. However, there are a few things retailers should bear in mind during the autumn season. As a helping hand, ACS has produced Assured Advice Guides on ‘Preventing Underage Sales’ and ‘Selling Fireworks’. These guides provide extensive information about the laws and guidelines regarding the sale of some of the products which will be in high demand over the next few weeks.
Read MoreThe Supporting Entrepreneurship Inquiry held its first evidence session in the National Assembly for Wales on 6th December, taking evidence directly from a range of Welsh Entrepreneurs and business organisations exploring how Government policy can support entrepreneurship.
The Inquiry is collecting evidence on the contributions that different types of entrepreneur make to the Welsh economy and looks to how best to support these entrepreneurs in the long-term.
Read MoreTreasury Select Committee chair Nicky Morgan MP has raised concerns about the future of the UK’s cash machine network in response to comments from LINK Chair Sir Mark Boleat.
Reassurances were sought by Nicky Morgan after a consultation was published by LINK in November, proposing to reduce the level of interchange rates (the fee paid by card issuers to ATM operators) by 20% over the next four years.
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