UK's south Asian shops struggle as smaller weddings hit sales

The south Asian high street is facing a fight for its future as customers scale back wedding celebrations owing to the cost-of-living crisis and young people's changing preferences.

- Neha Gohil

Businesses in Manchester and London have said they have had a huge decline in customers since the pandemic with the cost of living crisis prompting many people to decide against the traditional big south Asian wedding and to seek cheaper products online. Ankush Puri opened his clothing store in Southall, west London, known as "Little India", in 1993. He had moved to the UK from India five years earlier and was among several budding entrepreneurs with their sights on the growing south Asian retail market in the UK.

He said: "Things have changed completely since 1995 ... People are selling online, they're selling for low prices and shopkeepers have got expenses... the rents and rates are higher but your profits are low."