John Londei’s amazing photograph collection of small, independent and family owned businesses is hugely nostalgic, yet it is undeniably a stark reminder to us all of just how many independent businesses Britain has lost over the last 35 years. The portraits that make up the book “Shutting up Shop” show shopkeepers with their businesses, Londei wanted to capture the pride and enthusiasm that they had for their businesses - and the communities that they served.

Londei began his photographic project in 1972, with an aim to capture the essence and spirit of Britain’s independent retailers. He managed to capture an impressive 60 businesses over a 15 year time span. The shocking part of his project came when in 2004; he revisited all the shops that he had once photographed, he found that out of the original 60 only 7 were still in business.

With such a gloomy future forecasted for independent retailers it was exciting to see that one of the business photographed, The Umbrella Shop on New Oxford Street (or James Smith & Son’s as it is formally known) - which is only a about a mile from the welovelocal office and is still open, and trading today!

Check out John’s great pictures at the National Portrait Gallery it is on until the 4th of May 2008. Let’s hope that it reminds, and inspires everyone to keep shopping locally!