March for Independents campaign keeps merchants on right side of the law

By Richard Siddle

Published: 16 February, 2015

Today Harpers starts its third Action Week initiative as part of its March for the Independents campaign with a focus on helping merchants keep on top of the latest changes in business, employment and drinks legislation.

By their very nature independent merchants work on their own and do not always have immediate access to updates and changes to the key business regulations they need to follow to stay the right side of the law.

This week Harpers hopes to highlight key areas where independents might need to update their knowledge as well as remind them and set out the key employment legislation they need to be on top of running what can be complex retail, wholesale and online operations.

Today independent wine merchants can go to the March for the Independents section of the Campaigns area of Harpers.co.uk and download key information and forms in the following areas:

Employment and business law

Make sure you know your responsibilities relating to disciplinary procedures, zero contract hours, pensions, part time working, maternity pay, sick pay, and redundancy

Waste management and recyclying - are you aware of your responsibilities and the risk of heavy fines if you do not keep up with glass and waste payments

Changes to regulations governing online, ecommerce and distance selling

Later in the week independents will also be able to access key information in relation to drinks regulations and keeping on top of tax, duty and HMRC regualtions. They will also be able to access specialist advice in these two key areas:

Waste management and recyclying - are you aware of your responsibilities and the risk of heavy fines if you do not keep up with glass and waste payments

Changes to regulations governing online, ecommerce and distance selling

But we also want to hear from independents about any issues they face that other retailers might also need to be aware of. Please contact harpers.editorial@wrbm.com if you would like to share your experiences.

The activity marks the third Action Week of four as Harpers builds up to its dedicated business conference for independent wine merchants at London's St Ermin hotel on March 3.

Independents can still take part in the previous Action Weeks that have taken this month that looked at:

· Action Week 1: How to work better with your suppliers.

A chance to get your suppliers behind the Harpers Best Practice Guidelines and ensure you have most effective relationship with your supplier

· You can download a templated letter in the Action Week 1 and send to any supplier that has not signed up. You can also catch up on the Guidelines themselves download for your business

· Action Week 2: How to get your MP and local media on your side

Make your MP and local media aware of the impact high alcohol duty rates have on your business and ability to grow.

· You can take part in the industry Drop the Duty campaign and directly email your MP to lobby the Chancellor to cut duty in the March Budget. Simply click here, enter your postcode and that's it

· But you can also send a personal letter to your MP by downloading Harpers templated letter setting out the reasons for a duty cut and also inviting them to your business so that they can get to know your company

· You can also get your local media on your side and get their readers to back the Drop the Duty campaign by downloading our templated Letter to the Editor for publication in local or regional newspaper.

The March for the Independents campaign continues next week with insights and data on the latest wine sales trends in the off-trade.

The campaign culminates in the March for the Independents conference on March 3 featuring a line-up of leading independent merchants, business consultants and experts. To register and for more information go to Marchfortheindependents.co.uk.

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