I am beyond sad to say, but the rumours are true, our beautiful Cabot Circus Store closes on Sunday 1st February
It has been a blimmin’ pleasure to have created a successful independent retail space here for so long, and in such a prime retail zone. We were only supposed to be here for six months - and somehow it became four years and four months. That’s a huge achievement.
Since we opened in September 2021, we have paid out to small batch, UK artists and designers a whopping: £834,101.41
In this space we've showcased the work of over 187 independent artists, delivered 261 creative workshops, hosted 32 exhibitions, held 15 events (artist talks, Q&A, book and product launches etc), supported 12 work experience students and held talks and tours for 154 art college students
Christmas was very busy and we had a huge amount of sales - but not quite enough to make the numbers work for us to move to another Cabot Circus unit. With redevelopment underway, we’ll be leaving our Cabot Circus shop for now and concentrate on our little shop in Redfield, Bristol BS5 and online.
In reality, operational costs continue to be higher than what remains after paying artists, and previously crowdfunders, award funding and personal funds have subsidised us over the year to keep the doors open in the city centre.
PRIOR has, in many ways, become a victim of its own success, having grown without the structural framework or support needed to sustain it long term. With our already crippling Business Rates bill set to increase again from April, we can’t afford to operate sustainably here under the current model we have.
The Cabot Circus management team has been incredibly supportive and we would’ve survived if we were given business rate relief. I took on this space and invested personal funds on the understanding at the time that, as a not-for-profit organisation, we would continue to receive the 80% discretionary business rates relief. The subsequent removal of this relief is what triggered the financial difficulties that have since escalated.
The suggestion from Bristol City Council, when we challenged that we couldn’t do-what-we-do without our business rate relief being reinstated, was for us to move into a smaller shop outside the city centre. While we could have done that, it entirely misses the point of what PRIOR set out to do.
We wanted handmade work represented here, in the heart of the city, alongside the retail giants. Not only to generate income for local creatives, but to inspire and connect handmade UK craft with the wider public. To offer a softer and more welcoming retail experience, supported by regular community events. To show artists, students, graduates and hobbyists that local creativity belongs in mainstream retail, and to encourage them to invest back into their creative practices.
The irony is paying local artists keeps money circulating in the regional economy rather than leaking out to international chains or shareholders. Artists reinvest their earnings into studio rent, production materials, fabrication, packaging, local services, and living costs - supporting multiple specialist micro-businesses in the process (framers, printers, textile machinists, marketing companies etc.). This creates a proven local multiplier effect, strengthens the creative supply chain, and sustains employment and skills that cannot be offshored.
The fact that we have been paying the same business rates as Apple, Oliver Bonas and Hugo Boss says everything. I remain adamant that the current business rates system creates a significant gap in support for small independent businesses that are attempting to grow and contribute meaningfully to the local economy.
While there is relief available for very small premises, there is almost no graduated or transitional support once independents begin to scale. As a result, growing local businesses face disproportionately high financial risk at precisely the point where they are trying to become sustainable.
It feels counterintuitive that business rates - designed to support local services - have become the single greatest pressure threatening the sustainability of community-focused organisations such as ours.
Imagine if business rates worked like they do in other European countries - based on a percentage of profit rather than a fixed cost. Small businesses wouldn’t be pushed out just for existing in city centres.
There was supposed to be a major business rates reform last Autumn, yet in practice it only increased the financial burden. More should be done by Government and local councils to support ambitious independent businesses attempting to grow. I naively thought that if I held my ground and kept arguing the case, we would eventually be heard.
The staff, makers and our customer I value enormously, because of the commitment, care, and resilience everyone has shown everyday is what has kept this going for as long as it has in Cabot. For staff, it's incredibly hard to feel like we are working flat out, constantly adapting, and still always fighting to stay afloat without ever quite getting a break - but that doesn’t take away from the dedication or the worth of what everyone contributes.
So, now we close this store, and we leave on a high, with so much gratitude to our customers, artists, designers and staff…
Visit our Cabot Circus shop for the last time, until Sunday 1st February. We hope to be in Cabot Circus for Christmas pop-ups and other projects so keep your eyes peeled.
Up to 50% off on some items and 10% online.
Please remember that our online shop and small shop on Church Road, BS5, will remain open.
Ps. HUGE Art Raffle to be announced soon - our artists have donated some incredible prices.
Thank you for joining our fight to stay in this enormous unit.
All my love and determination....
Beck
xxx
