Big supermarkets and chains have a lot of power within the shopping marketplace. However, as the economy improves and more people have cash available to spend, independent shops are making their way back onto our high streets. They make for a refreshingly different shopping experience for consumers and their popularity is very positive for small business owners.

Independent shops can sell anything from clothing, shoes and accessories to food and specialist ingredients. The variety of items available may be smaller than in a large chain store but the quality often tends to be very high.

Shopping for clothes in independent stores gives you the opportunity to create your own unique style. Some pieces may even be one-offs, so you will know that nobody else is wearing the same garments as you. Many of the accessories you can find in these shops, such as handbags and jewellery, are beautiful and are very professionally made.

Food shops are often based around cuisine from a particular area, such as Asia or Eastern Europe. This gives people an excellent opportunity to try different kinds of foods which they might not otherwise be able to find in chain stores. The choices available might also be more healthy and many independent food shops brand themselves as health food stores, specialising in whole foods and raw foods.