There's an interesting conversation happening across British retail right now.
Recent research from Bira suggests independent retailers are facing considerable pressure from operating costs and business rates.
Yet Faire's Voices of Retail 2026 found that 71% of independent retailers surveyed were either stable or growing.
Meanwhile, John Lewis is investing in fashion, introducing new labels and bringing Topshop back into physical stores.
So where does that leave the emerging designer?
At Agent N, we've spent years working across both sides of British retail, from independent boutiques and regional specialists to major department stores and international luxury destinations.
We've also spent considerable time on the road this year, visiting independents, speaking with buyers and understanding what they actually want on their shop floors.
And one thing remains clear to us.
A prestigious stockist isn't necessarily a successful stockist.
An independent boutique that understands its customers, believes in a collection and consistently reorders can be just as valuable to a developing brand as the exposure of a major department store.
But equally, the right department-store partnership can transform a label's visibility and commercial trajectory.
Our work isn't simply about getting brands through the door. It's about understanding the retailer, negotiating the right commercial structure, managing the relationship and creating opportunities for repeat business.
We'd love to hear from the people actually making these decisions.
Independent Retailers: Are you finding it harder to take chances on emerging labels?
Department-Store Buyers: What does a new brand need to demonstrate today that perhaps wasn't expected five years ago?
Designers: Would you rather have one prestigious department-store account or 20 independent stockists consistently reordering?
Let's hear from all sides.