As Chronicle & Echo’s Back Our Businesses campaign comes to end, what has the past 12 weeks shown us about how Northampton businesses are coping with the rising cost of living? Starting on October 6, this coverage has given a platform to business owners every week – allowing them to share the reality of keeping their ventures going strong.

This year’s community cafe silver award winner at the Northamptonshire Food and Drink awards has shared its concerns over the “inconsistency” of custom and how this may affect the future. Richard said: “It’s alarming and shows we have to be cautious. Running a business during the cost of living crisis has been tough and hugely challenging, as we are mindful that we are still such a new business.”

The business owner knew there were better alternatives waiting to be discovered to what was already available on the sweet shelves, as no brands had endeavoured to offer vegan sweets with plastic-free packaging. Earlier this year Greta was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the national Federation of Small Business (FSB) awards, and she has shared how her business is faring in the current climate.

While Christmas would usually be a busy period for the gift shop, 57-year-old Majid Riahi spoke to Chronicle & Echo about how this is far from the case this year with the rising cost of living. “As we’ve had to put our prices up between 20 and 40 percent per item, in line with the price rises from who we buy our stock from, people are shopping around in the hope of buying the same products cheaper.”

Lindsey Scott-Walker is the owner of Feather Robins Gifts, in Kent Road, and says she has felt very welcomed into the Duston community – particularly by the other stores. The retail village has grouped together to support one another, in an attempt to turn it into a “destination hub”. This endeavour starts tomorrow night (December 1) as they are hosting a late night shopping evening.

With the decrease in footfall in Northampton town centre since the end of the pandemic, this week’s campaign coverage looks at how Nuovo Restaurant has fared with the increasing challenges businesses face. “We’re currently at the bottom of a mountain and next year is going to be tough when the utility bills support stops and wage rises are implemented in April.”

Though everyone may enjoy frequenting the pubs and venues Northampton has to offer, there is no denying this may be one of the first things people cut down on when looking to minimise spending. Teresa McCarthy-Dixon, landlady of The Swan & Helmet in Grove Road and founder of the McCarthy-Dixon Foundation, is aware of this, but says her venue is “much more than a pub” and acts as “a living room to the community”.

We have heard a lot about how shops and businesses that thrive off in-person sales are navigating this difficult period, but what is it really like for an online business during the cost of living crisis? My 1st Years, which has a base located in Grange Park, has built a large following, with more than 360,000 followers keeping up with their latest personalised children’s gifts on Instagram alone.

Duston Village Bakery, which first opened in Main Road in 2012, has been hit hard by the cost of living crisis. Owner Jenni Smith recently saw the bills soar to £4,500 per month and after finding a new provider, this has only gone down to £3,000 – which is triple what the bakery used to pay.

Although these chains and some of the country’s leading supermarkets, Asda and Waitrose, are not likely to be too phased by their increasing outgoings because of the custom that comes through their doors, this is not the case for the independent businesses that line the streets of Kingsthorpe. However, as people are having to tighten the belt as everything gets more expensive, visitors who would often come in twice or three times a week have now had to limit it to once.

Having spoken to four businesses along the street, some of which have been there for more than a decade, it is clear to see the lack of certainty – from the Government – about what the future holds is leaving them fearful.

At what should be a time for celebration for The Eccentric Englishman after celebrating its first birthday, is actually a time of worry as its electricity bill went up £70 last month alone – and this is just the beginning. Owner Liz Cox put off increasing prices for as long as she could, but says she “had no choice” but to make the shift and tried her best to remain within the remit of what other cafes and bars are charging.

The support will be equivalent to the Energy Price Guarantee that has been put in place for households, and businesses do not have to take action as it will automatically be applied to their bills. And it is not just increasing energy prices that businesses are having to contend with – as this is having a knock on effect on the price of their stock and resources, and the fair wages they need to pay staff to afford to live.