Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The purpose of this study was to examine the problems of the small retail unit in urban Britain and to analyse the current major trends in small unit retailing in order to determine the economic processes behind these trends.

Main Topics:

Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Type of shop, servicing facilities, site, whether purpose-built, annual/weekly turnover and weekly wages bill. Whether business/other businesses owned, length of ownership, previous occupation (reasons for change, where appropriate). Size of shop interior, number of employees, ease of obtaining staff. Own transport, whether used for business, details of membership of voluntary groups or buying chain and source of supplies for shop. Opinion, satisfaction and suggested improvements for supply services. Experience of attempts to sell shop. Trade union membership, investments made in last 6 months, source of finance/financial strains and future plans. Any problems with business. Opinion on whether blame for country's economic crisis could be placed on one thing/person/group and suggested improvements. Background Variables School-leaving age, further education, and special training in retailing.

Area sampling with quota sampling in each area

Face-to-face interview