Store wars.

Insurance is an overhead that many smaller shopkeepers are keen to cut in their struggle against the big retail groups. It is tough for insurers offering shops cover, says Steve Banner.

With the major supermarket chains exercising an ever-stronger grip on
consumers purses and wallets, Britain's small shopkeepers are under
pressure as never before. Their willingness to stay open late is no longer
the advantage it once was, now that some supermarkets trade around the
clock, as well as on Sundays too.


Diversifying into other product areas does not help much, either. The big
retail groups are already covering all the potential niches, and are using
their purchasing power to drive down