The contribution retail makes to the Scottish economy and to keeping prices down for consumers will be celebrated at the Scottish Retail Consortium's annual parliamentary reception tonight (Wednesday).
Date:
Wed, 11 Jan 2012
Source:
Scottish Retail Consortium
Scottish Retail Consortium:
Website
A new report, 'Retail: Serving Scotland's Communities', is being launched at the event, which is being held at Waterstone's on Edinburgh's Princes Street.
Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, is the principal guest speaker.
The report draws on new research and highlights key statistics including:
- 10% of Scottish businesses are retailers, higher than the 9% UK average
- Retail remains Scotland's largest private-sector employer with nearly 240,000 employees, around 9% of the workforce
- Retail sales of Scottish food and drink brands across Scotland, England and Wales have increased by 32% since 2007 and were worth £1.85 billion in 2011
Competition between retailers means UK consumers enjoy prices which are around 5% lower than the rest of the Eurozone area. Just under 35% of the average Scottish household budget is spent on essentials, just below the UK figure.
SRC chairman Ken MacKenzie, says: "Retail plays a vital part in binding our communities together.
"With millions of consumer visits every week, retail has a unique role delivering products and services to everyone in Scotland, while employing hundreds of thousands of people.
"With some of the most challenging market conditions for years, Scottish retailing is at a crossroads yet remains one of our most innovative and enterprising sectors.
"Our new report shows the benefits of a vibrant retail sector are felt by Scottish producers and the tourist trade, among many other business services.
"Even with rising input costs, competition among retailers keeps the price of a basket of goods below the EU average, delivering benefits both for hard-pressed consumers and the rest of the economy.
"Retailers do not seek subsidies but do need help in overcoming barriers to success and creating new opportunities. Retail failures leave gaps on high streets and can result in substantial job losses.
"Government can support the sector's efforts to flourish, to renew growth in sales of high-quality Scottish products both in shops and to new online markets, and to sustain thousands of jobs, by holding back the costs for which they are responsible, including business rates, retail levies and the burden of regulation."
The SRC's annual Parliamentary Reception is being held at Waterstone's on Edinburgh's Princes Street with Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, as the principal guest speaker.
More retail news from Scotland.