Georgia Kousoulou, 22 owner of So Glam, in Epping High Street, is calling for shopkeepers to help each other survive.

“Landlords should look at the high street and think about what is down here,” she said.

“It’s not going to help anyone if everything’s the same; they need more things that bring everyone in and give them more reason to come here, maybe something like fast food.

“Maybe shops should stick together more.

“There’s a little town partnership where we talk about Christmas and events.

“The problem is there’s not enough shop keepers that want to take their time out to do it.

“If everyone came to meetings, everyone’s views are different and we could brainstorm ideas to better the high street. That’s what would be good.

“I always recommend other shops to keep business in the high street.

“If everyone did that a bit more it would work in their favour as well.

“You work together – it’s all about team work and some shops have recommended us before.

“Bigger stores are a problem because they get things cheaper and they’re killing the high street.

“The big chains are not really giving the little independent ones a chance.

“I was reading a magazine the other day and they were advertising large stores. They don’t need the advertisement. I think magazines and newspapers need to help independent stores.

“You don’t always want to go to the bigger stores.

“My buying is different to someone else’s buying and you haven’t got the worry of going out and finding out everyone’s in the same dress.

“We do work hard. When someone comes in, we have more one-to-one with them and advise them.

“If all us little people go and the big names come in then every high street will be the same, they’re killing us off.”