By Clare Bailey
This morning I was asked for my opinion by BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire about the number of vacant units in Rugby and whether auctioning them off might be the way forward.
Let me be absolutely clear: it isn’t.
If a unit is empty, it’s empty for a reason. Auctioning doesn’t solve the underlying problem. It’s like sticking a plaster over a broken bone, it might look proactive, but it won’t heal the wound.
What’s really needed is a stronger, more balanced economy that makes people want to be in a town centre, and gives businesses a fair shot at survival. That means landlords taking a long-term view. If a property has slipped into dilapidation, shifting the full burden onto a new tenant is unrealistic. Incentives, rent breaks, or flexible terms make far more sense than waiting years for a “perfect” tenant who may never come. Empty shops earn no rent, no rates, and no community goodwill.
But here’s the fundamental point: filling shops isn’t the hard bit. Keeping them trading is.
Retailer Support
Right now, too much of the “support” on offer to retailers and hospitality businesses is generic, one-size-fits-all, and frankly, outdated. Councils and funding bodies love broad-brush workshops and cookie-cutter webinars. But if it were that simple, if a Canva tutorial or a crash course in TikTok could save the high street – we wouldn’t be staring down vacancy rates of 13% and climbing.
Retailers are not daft. They’re some of the most resilient, adaptable, and creative entrepreneurs you’ll ever meet. But they are tired. Tired of firefighting. Tired of rising rates, spiralling wages, soaring energy bills, and footfall that ebbs and flows with the weather and the whims of the Bank of England.
What they need is not theory — but tailored, commercial, roll-up-your-sleeves support.
At The Retail Champion, that’s what we do, and it’s not just me anymore. Over the last five years, we’ve built a powerhouse consultancy team with expertise that spans every corner of the retail ecosystem.
Here’s the reality: each business has its own unique challenges, so the solutions have to be just as unique.
- For a retailer struggling with cashflow, that might mean forensic accounting to identify where margins are leaking and where efficiencies can be made.
- For an indie brand trying to scale, it could be help with selling into retail — packaging, wholesale pricing, buyer packs, and pitch decks that actually get you listed.
- For a place-based economy, we bring expertise in events, placemaking, and marketing to create reasons for people to come into town, dwell longer, and discover local businesses.
- For those with weak digital presence, our team delivers SEO, ecommerce optimisation, content strategy, and even full podcasting services to put them on the map and in the conversation.
- For businesses struggling with brand clarity, we provide graphic design, storytelling, and customer experience audits, so they don’t just sell products, they sell a reason to buy.
- For leaders under pressure, our business psychology and coaching support gives them the clarity and resilience to steer their teams through the storm.
This isn’t theory. This is the work we’ve done and continue to do with businesses across the UK. From micro independents on the high street, to mid-sized wholesalers, to national PLCs. We know what it takes to build resilience, because we’ve done it from every angle.
We’re not the cheapest. We’re not trying to be. Because cheap advice rarely moves the needle. But we are the best at what we do. And our results prove it.
Auctions Won’t Solve The Problem
So, no – auctioning vacant units in Rugby (or anywhere else) won’t solve the problem. What will?
- Landlords who play the long game — incentivising tenants to take on tired units and invest in making them vibrant again.
- Councils who fund real expertise — not generic tick-box workshops, but tailored, one-to-one advice that meets businesses where they are.
- Retailers who get the right support — financial, operational, creative, and strategic — so they can compete on more than just survival.
The future of the high street isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about real investment in people, businesses, and places. And that means tailored support that delivers tangible change.
At The Retail Champion, that’s exactly what we bring.
Because retail isn’t dying. But bad support? That needs to.
About the Author
Clare Bailey aka The Retail Champion is a straight-talking retail expert with 30+ years’ experience from shop floor to boardroom. She’s advised indies, PLCs, councils and global brands, written two books, and still finds time to champion Britain’s high streets.
Meet Clare and the full Retail Champion team here
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