ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to review the operational dimensions of small and medium enterprise retailers in the UK and highlight the difficult retailing issues faced by these retailers in the fast changing and competitive UK retail environment. The lack of ‘know-how’ at the start and expertise in merchandising or stock control in the succeeding years can cause a small retailer to feel isolated and uncompetitive. Small and medium enterprise retailing has long been a feature of the British economy, providing valuable local economic and social resources. The small and medium enterprise retail sector in general is a traditional feature of the British economy. The global economic downturn has affected small and medium size retailers severely more than the large chains in the UK. Specific to small business retailing is the concern with respect to the age of owner-managers.
