00:00On Egbeth Road, it's a shop many people pass every day, often without thinking twice,
00:05but for more than 65 years, the Breadshop Bakery has been a constant part of the local community.
00:11It is more important than any other year to keep shopping local, to be honest.
00:15Even if it's a small item that you buy from your local shop,
00:18normally what happens at this time of year is people will go to a huge supermarket,
00:22spend massive amounts of money, and then for a month they don't really shop local.
00:27So most people's perception that your small businesses are busy at Christmas is not true,
00:32because this is what generally happens.
00:35As Christmas approaches, independent businesses like these are an example of how long-standing shops continue to play a vital role,
00:45reminding consumers that their choices can support communities long after the festive season ends.
00:51We've actually had the busiest six-month period that we've ever had.
00:55This is our 67th Christmas that we've been open, and the last six months for ourselves have been really, really busy.
01:02First opened in the late 1950s by Len Gordon, it began life as a small grocery store.
01:07Over time, it grew into a full bakery, making fresh goods on site every day,
01:11while still supplying everyday essentials for local customers.
01:14We've had a returning customer this week, emigrated to Australia 50 years ago,
01:20and it was absolutely gobsmacked that we were still here.
01:23So, yeah, we're only still here because we're supported by the community.
01:28Today, the business is in its third-generation lens.
01:30Grandson Alan now runs the bakery, keeping it family-owned and firmly rooted in the neighbourhood it served for decades.
01:38We use local suppliers, we have local staff that work here,
01:43and obviously the more busier we are, the more staff and suppliers benefit from that.
01:47So it really is important to maybe have a think where the money that you're spending is going.
01:53The story of this bakery reflects a wider point about shopping locally, particularly at Christmas.
01:59According to a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research,
02:03spending £10 at a local independent shop keeps £3.80 circulating in the local economy.
02:10That's nearly double the impact of spending the same amount with larger chain retailers.
02:15I think also the way people are shopping now is slightly different.
02:18I think years ago, people might have stockpiled, for instance, a bag of oranges, 12 oranges, at five, and through the rest of the way.
02:26I think now people are a bit more conscious on food waste, on their own money, and realise that's not actually beneficial.
02:33So we've found an increase of footfall because I think people are getting stuff every day.
02:39Instead of doing a big shop every two weeks, they're getting a couple of things every other day,
02:42and that's really helped our business.
02:44And I hope that that obviously helps a lot of other small businesses in the city centre.
02:49For shoppers that are practical benefits too,
02:51local shops often offer immediate availability, personal service, and familiarity,
02:56which can make a difference during the busy festive period.
