Mary Portas: How Small Businesses Thrive on the High Street!

Despite significant challenges faced by the British high street in recent times, Mary Portas’s enthusiasm for retail remains unshaken. “This period is incredibly stimulating because it’s about reconstruction,” the consultant and TV personality explains. “Our nation is a reservoir of talent, innovation, and creativity—we need to nurture and support these qualities.”

Known as the “queen of shops” after revitalizing the iconic London department store Harvey Nichols in the 1990s, Portas has collaborated with numerous prestigious brands, including Louis Vuitton and Sainsbury’s, through her consultancy firm. Today, she dedicates her extensive experience to promoting small, independent businesses, which she believes “inject essential vibrancy and innovative thinking that our high streets and economy greatly require.”

In collaboration with Mastercard and Worldpay, Portas has organized this year’s Thrive Street Retail Market: a series of pop-up retail events scheduled for October at Altogether Otherwise, a creative center in Manchester’s NOMA district, and the Truman Brewery, a venue on Brick Lane in Shoreditch, East London. Each venue will feature 15 community-focused businesses carefully selected by Portas.

Throughout two extended weekends, these markets will serve as essential shopping spots, exhibiting products that stand out for their “purpose, uniqueness, and innovation,” ranging from eyewear and pre-loved fashion to homeware and jewelry. “The markets will offer a blend of exceptional products and ideas, which are usually not seen together,” Portas notes.

Additionally, these markets will transform into centers of inspiration at night, hosting business masterclasses, expert panels, and networking events open to all local entrepreneurs and retailers. “This presents a superb opportunity for local businesses to network, exchange insights, and learn from one another,” she adds.

This marks the fourth year of Portas’s involvement in the initiative, which she considers crucial for exposing shoppers and policymakers to a new, more appealing vision of what our high streets could resemble.

“The traditional high street, dominated by major brands, will not return as it was,” Portas declares. “That era is over, but it doesn’t mean the high street is dead. The shift in how we want to live and work post-Covid has sparked a demand for more accessible local resources. We’re also valuing businesses more that show they care about our planet and our communities. This shift has opened up exciting opportunities for smaller brands with innovative ideas.

“Small and emerging businesses are not just the economic backbone but also the soul of our communities,” Portas continues. “They bring creativity, culture, and identity to our high streets—and they need more than just applause; they need substantial support. That’s the rationale behind the creation of Thrive Street 2025 with Mastercard and Worldpay. It’s a platform where outstanding independent brands can gather, gain visibility, receive support, and demonstrate what the future of business could look like.”

Portas has always been an advocate for markets, viewing them as a vital means for town centers to “reclaim their spirit.” Markets not only provide businesses with a cost-effective way to test selling their products in a physical setting, but they also foster community connections. “People crave human interaction, which we’ve all come to value more after experiencing what it’s like to be without it,” she says.

Every aspect of the Thrive Street venues is meticulously planned by Mastercard, Worldpay, Portas, and her team to ensure that visiting provides “a delightful sensory experience,” according to Portas. “That’s essential; shopping should be an enjoyable, social activity.” She recalls her time at Harvey Nichols as an example of what can be achieved when shopping destinations focus on fostering a sense of community. “We transformed it into a place where people wanted to spend time with their friends,” she remarks.

While digital shopping has its place, Portas asserts that “for purchasing items like a fine bottle of wine, stylish clothing, or lovely home decor, I prefer visiting a physical store where I can take my time exploring.”

“It’s about discovery; you might not know exactly what you’re looking for, but then you stumble upon something unexpected that you adore. That sense of delight and joy that I’ve experienced during my best retail moments is what I aim to replicate at Thrive Street.”

“We’re considering everything from the music to the elegant wooden finishes and, of course, outstanding service. I want customers to think, ‘I need this close to home.’”

Portas was overwhelmed with applications from brands eager to participate. In addition to securing a spot at one of the markets, the 30 selected businesses will participate in expert workshops led by Portas, Mastercard, and Worldpay, and receive further support and resources.

“We sought forward-thinking entrepreneurs who are either solving problems or reimagining a product or service in a unique way,” she explains. “We also looked for individuals with a strong drive for their business to succeed and for businesses that contribute to the well-being of their community or the environment.”

Portas highlights a few standout participants, such as Round Retail, a resale platform that collects pre-loved fashion from individuals and ethical brands, resells it, and shares the proceeds between itself, the donor, and a charitable cause. “It’s a beautiful concept,” says Portas.

Another notable business is Soaked, an umbrella company based in Manchester, inspired by the fact that approximately 1 billion broken umbrellas are discarded globally each year, often ending up in landfills. “Soaked’s umbrellas are designed to be durable and are made from fabrics derived from recycled plastic bottles, which really impressed us,” she notes.

Portas eagerly anticipates the opening of the Thrive Street markets, to “showcase the creativity, culture, and character these brands can bring to our high streets,” she states. “And hopefully, customers will leave inspired to support the independent businesses in their own local areas, too.”

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