Image and survival ­ two words stamped indelibly into the mission statement of any private retailer's profit plan are back in the industry spotlight. For the second week running, the head of a leading group has warned that the great British public is turning its back on the grot' shops. Costcutter managing director Colin Graves believes everything will be driven by information technology and only professionals will survive. His message to would-be new members therefore is that only outlets displaying the highest standards need apply. Graves' remarks follow warnings from Spar that the symbol group is to attack poor stores, and it is even calling for members to target shabby operators. All laudable stuff. This newspaper has long believed that the only path to independent profit and prosperity lies with high standards backed by IT-formulae which allow operators to compete more effectively against the multiples. Yet inextricably linked with the issue of imagery is the independents' ultimate survival in localities where the best trading practices are being overshadowed by economic and social pressures. Try preaching the IT message to a licensed retailer whose store has been ram-raided three times in a month, is forced to employ a minder' to deter gangs of teenage shoplifters and is facing the threat of double yellow lines outside his door as a new bus lane is installed. The crime issue is a persistent headache. Home Office research tells us that staff in smaller shops are up to five times more likely to suffer assault and threats, and 1.7 million of two million store crimes annually are cases of shoplifting. The Government has a retail action group to raise awareness and the mighty British Retail Consortium is making the issue a priority. Yet there is clearly more to be done. Bearing in mind the likely significance of the small business vote, Messrs Major and Blair would do well to take another look at the plight of some independents long before the polling stations throw open their doors next year.{{NEWS}}