In Hampstead Community Market, independent traders such as Montadito and MEAT Naturally report significant financial strain from rising costs like rent, business rates, and National Insurance. Eva Fuertes of Montadito highlights the struggles caused by Brexit and the pandemic, making it difficult to hire staff and import goods. Suppliers are raising order minimums due to increased costs, compounding the challenges. Farza Emami from MEAT Naturally notes that affluent local customers have dwindled, as many have relocated for cheaper living abroad, making the market even more competitive for smaller businesses.
We were importing directly from Spain but after Brexit it was almost impossible. During Covid we started to add more products. It's very hard.
People always complain about the prices but they don't realise this. They think because we are a stall, not a shop, we don't pay anything, but we do.
Hampstead people are affluent but since Brexit a lot of our customers have gone away; City people, European people, they found it cheaper to work abroad.
At the end of the day, if one day I don't receive my salary, it's alright, but it's not alright.
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