Priyesh Vekaria
Franchise Partner | Multi Award Winning Retail Entrepreneur | Property Developer | Industry Advocate | Community Purpose
As retail leaders, we spend much of our time adapting to change. New regulations, evolving customer expectations, economic pressures, and technological advancements all shape the environment in which we operate.
Opportunities to actively influence those changes are far rarer.
The consultation on the Tobacco and Vapes Act represents one of those opportunities.
The decisions that emerge from this process have the potential to shape the retail sector for years to come, influencing everything from store operations and compliance requirements to investment decisions and customer experience. It is therefore vital that retailers, wholesalers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders take the time to engage and ensure their voices are heard.
Getting Started Doesn’t Need to Be Difficult
One of the most common reasons retailers, like us, do not participate in consultations is the perception that the process is complicated or time-consuming.
The reality is that you do not need to answer every question. If the first few sections aren’t your priority, you can skip ahead to what is most important for you. For example, to skip to plain packaging and flavour descriptors for vaping and nicotine products you should go to 21% of the top progress bar, and retail display for the same products is 53%.
If there are specific areas of the consultation that directly affect your business, you can focus your attention on those sections. A targeted, evidence-based response addressing issues you understand well can be just as valuable as a comprehensive submission.
To support businesses throughout this process, C-Talk and I have developed a range of practical resources designed to make participation easier, and help you build awareness amongst your customers, staff and fellow retailers.
Share the Resources Across Your Network
Engagement across the retail sector is essential.
We encourage businesses not only to submit their own responses but also to share these resources with colleagues, business partners, suppliers, trade associations, and industry networks.
A broad and representative range of submissions helps ensure that policymakers gain a fuller understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
Now Is the Time to Engage
Every business will be affected differently by future regulatory changes. Taking part in consultations is one of the most effective ways to ensure that those differences are understood.
Whether this is your first consultation response or one of many, the resources available through C-Talk are designed to help you participate with confidence.
The consultation process is open now, and will close October 2nd.
Take a look at the resources, identify the areas most relevant to your organisation, and make your voice heard.
Submit Your Consultation Response 🔗
Consultation Resources
Consultation Overview Guide: A ‘How To’
If you agree that the proposals should be adjusted, then tell government through your response. Make sure to draw on your personal experience for how difficult these restrictions and bans will be.
Retail Display Ban Briefing: Did you know?
Detailed guidance focused specifically on the proposed Retail Display Ban, including examples of operational impacts and key considerations for retailers. Will new under counter storage really cost £99? And is this possible to implement in 6 months?
Responses