Happy New Year? How was the old one?

Happy New Year?

It will not have escaped your notice that the news is full of how well John Lewis did and how Blacks has gone from being in the red to being in administration. Actually, all but three John Lewis branches found less in their tills than last year, while their website really clicked, and some branches of the outdoor retailer have been trading well but were pulled down by the results of the whole. The truth of high street retailing is always more complex than the story that is told about it by the media. A phone survey of bira.members just prior to the holiday showed that independents were on average 2.8% down on the year before, but while 40% of them were looking gloomily into the cash drawer, 25% of them were still looking on the bright side, with more money taken than in the previous December.

Left to themselves the media will report the fortunes of multiples, not independents who outnumber them two to one* - and the government will take their cue from them. To make sure you have the opportunity to tell the truth of your trading bira has opened its online quarterly sales monitor. We hope that as you have taken part in past surveys you will not want to miss out on this one, which looks set to report the most challenging festive selling period in recent years (and that's saying something).

As ever, the questions are simple and to the point. This time round we have added a question about the availability or otherwise of credit insurance and its impact on independents. Also as ever we invite your comments, on trade, the future, life the universe and everything.We hope that you will be able to take part. If even one independent who could take part does not out then the credibility of this vital source of real information will be compromised.

The survey window is open here https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BDJFN3C until January 20th.