Big changes are taking place across Britain鈥檚 high streets.
Former retail giants are continuing to fall victim to Covid-19, with dozens of well-known brands collapsing in 2020.
Many retailers have had to adapt fast to survive the impact of the national lockdowns, which forced non-essential stores to close.
Although the future may look bleak for some major national chains, it appears to be quite a different story for the country鈥檚 independent shops.
In fact, many 'indies' are finding innovative ways to continue trading - and are thriving as a result.
According to research from the British Independent Retailers Association and Starling Bank, some 72 per cent of people in the South West plan to buy gifts from independent shops this year 鈥 the highest of any 海角视频 region or nation.
Bristol, in particular, is well known for its indie vibe.
Bustling Clifton Village is among a number of areas across the city where independent businesses are flourishing. The upmarket part of town is jam-packed with all manner of eateries, shops and bars.
BusinessLive spoke to just some of the business owners who run stores in the village, to find how they have fared in 2020.
SoleLution
Tanya Marriott opened shoe store SoleLution in Portishead in October 2005, with the Clifton branch following in February 2008.
This year her stores have been closed for a total of four months, but she adapted her business so she could still trade.
The changes included developing an online virtual fitting questionnaire, offering local doorstep fitting and a delivery service.
When her stores reopened, Tanya also added extra safety measures including 鈥榗ustomer stations鈥 with screens and sanitising shoes before returning them to the stockroom. She also introduced an appointment system which cut queues.
The business, she said, had its best 鈥榖ack to school鈥 season ever in 2020.
鈥淸The appointment system] went down a storm during back to school in August 鈥 parents and children loved the fact they could turn up and be seen without having to queue as they normally would.鈥
Tanya says she is finding people are wanting to 鈥渟hop local鈥 more and more - and is 鈥渜uietly optimistic鈥 about the future of the high street.
鈥淚t is very difficult to buy shoes online, particularly when fitting children,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t is therefore, really important for us, to have a bricks-and-mortar shop.
She added: 鈥淭he way that the communities of Portishead and Clifton have supported us during this tough year has been amazing. There is a real feeling that people want their local businesses to not only survive, but thrive.鈥
The Kitchen Man and Kitchen Artillery
The Kitchen Man showroom was opened by Nick Mitford in 2005, selling bespoke kitchen design, manufacture, and installation.
Kitchen Artillery opened in 2020, as part of The Kitchen Man business, selling kitchenware, cookware, and bakeware, and offering a knife sharpening service.
Nick says there has been a downturn in kitchen sales in 2020, but he decided to open a retail shop and keep his kitchen showroom open - and he is hopeful of a 鈥減romising鈥 2021.
He said: 鈥淜itchen Artillery sells products that, on the whole, are individual or immediately necessary purchases to use for cooking, where internet shopping is not used as frequently in this market due to customers preferring to see and handle items before purchase.鈥
Nick believes the benefits of having a bricks-and-mortar store, where people can hold tools, 鈥渇ar outweighs鈥 the alternative of buying online.
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鈥淐ustomers have repeatedly said that they like to be able to feel and discuss cookware products, and how they are going to use them, before purchasing," he said.
According to Nick, Clifton Village is a good place to do business because the presence of coffee shops and eateries means the streets are always busy with people browsing.
鈥淭he shops are small and personal, and there is a really good inter-retailer community, supported by BID Clifton which is funded by the businesses themselves.鈥
He believes 鈥渢hings are changing鈥 for the high street, but says it will always be 鈥渘eeded and necessary鈥.
Nick added: 鈥淎s ever, any business constantly needs to look at what they are doing and offering, and that should pave a way for their future and the future of the high street.鈥
Chandos Deli
Iain Keith-Smith opened Chandos in 1999. The store sells food and wine, and has a fresh lunchtime takeaway counter.
The business has seen 鈥済reat growth鈥 in its deli sales and the produce it makes this year, according to Iain.
鈥淔resh food needs to be talked about and tasted,鈥 he said. 鈥淒espite an increase in home deliveries there will always be a need for customers to choose the food they eat in person.鈥
The business has not been immune to the challenges of 2020, however.
Chandos experienced a drop in fresh fish sales due to difficulties in supply caused by Covid. But the biggest issue, says Iain, has been uncertainty.
鈥淎lmost every week has brought changes to the playing field, whether on an international level with Brexit, on a national level with Covid or on a very local level with the proposed pedestrianisation of Clifton Village,鈥 he said.
He says Clifton鈥檚 sense of community makes it a good place to do business, with residents and traders benefitting from each other鈥檚 presence.
鈥淭he next few months will be challenging with the recovery from Covid but more importantly thanks to the uncertainty of Brexit.
鈥淲ith two weeks to go we have no idea if much of the produce we sell will have huge tariffs slapped on or if they will even be available. The mid-term future, however, looks bright."
DBM Wines
Davis Bell & McCraith (DBM Wines) was founded in 2009 by wine experts Richard Davis, Aidan Bell and Susan McCraith.
The company鈥檚 first shop opened in Clifton Village in 2013 as an addition to a mail order business.
DBM has grown steadily each year, according to the owners, who moved to their current premises, on Princess Victoria Street, in September.
鈥淭hankfully wine shops are classed as essential businesses, although our original shop was not big enough to open safely during the first lockdown,鈥 said Richard.
鈥淗owever, we have been doing free delivery in Bristol since March which has been very popular.鈥
Since moving to the new store, which was able to open during England鈥檚 second lockdown, business has been 鈥渢hriving鈥, according to Richard.
鈥淎 real shop is important as we can talk to people face to face and build trusting relationships which is vital,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t also allows customers to browse and see what else is available which is difficult to do online.鈥
According to Aidan, Clifton Village is a 鈥渧ery special鈥 place to do business.
"It鈥檚 rare in that most of the retailers are small independents who are passionate about what they do, which means customers know they will find something different and interesting. The support the businesses give each other is wonderful too.鈥
And the future of Clifton Village? It鈥檚 bright, according to DBM wines.
鈥淚t is full of small independent shops that can understand their customers and can quickly cater to their needs,鈥 Richard added. 鈥淭he vibrant slightly chaotic bustle is enchanting and attracts people from quite a distance.鈥
