Welcome

Retail RoadshowProfit Improvement Workshop

Tonight

• Introductions

• Background to UK independent retailing scene – today

• Workshop Activity

• Feedback and discussion on key (business improvement) points

• Help available

• Question/Answer session – Business Link/Council/RWL

• Close

Introductions

Business Link

Retail Skills Advisor – Malcolm Clark

Council Representative

Retail Workshop – Paul Ford

Do you have your pack of info?PLEASE fill in the contact information BEFORE you go tonight

Paul Ford – Retail Workshop Ltd

Independent retailer – Manchester – 2 years

Habitat UK – 14 years

Independent retail group UK – 2 years

Retail Workshop Ltd – 1991 ………..

• providing services, consultancy and training only to UK independent outlets

• providing services, consultancy and training to UK retail trade organisations

• providing specialist services to Business Link for independent outlets

… delivering this session to over 2,300 UK independent outlets in

the last 16 years

Tonight’s objectives

• Discuss and highlight practical ideas that could help you to improve sales, efficiency, footfall and profitability in YOUR outlet

• Highlight programmes, initiatives and any funds to help you achieve the above

• Chance for you to meet with your local independent retail colleagues

• Quick review of Retail Today – independent scene

UK Independent retailing today

UK retail generates £265 billion of turnover (last 12 months)

Retail is Britain’s largest private sector employer

West Midlands retail scene:

- 250,000 people employed in 26,000 outlets

- Urban – 16,300 shops (16,200 are independents – 99.4%)

- Rural – 9,695 shops (9,600 are independents – 99%)

Current statistics show turnover down 5.2% (UK) and 5.7% (WM by 6.3%)

Fallout rate of independent shops currently at 1 in 8

……….. but this could be as high as 1 in 5 in next 12 months !

UK Independent retailing today

…….And it’s not getting any easier!

• Multiples and chains ‘eating’ into the traditional independent markets

• Increased consumer ‘buying on-line’ activity (July 09 +16.8%)

• Growing costs of overheads in operating the business

• Continual squeeze on margins

• Customer expectations on prices and service levels

UK Independent retailing today

Things aren’t easy and they could become even harder

So, how come some independent outlets seem to be weathering the storm and some don’t?

Tonight’s workshop is to look at that – highlight and discuss practical ideas on ….

Workshop group action

….. actions that YOU have taken that have:

Increased good footfall into your outlet

Improved your conversion rate of browsers to buyers

Accessed and used IT in your business, effectively

Reduced operating costs – without adversely affecting service levels

Improved efficiency of the whole team – more sales, better standards, less costs

Workshop groups

• Objectives

• Highlight and discuss practical ideas on your given subject – that have worked for YOU

• Set out a list (of at least 5) ready to feedback to the main group

• Feedback session to discuss all ideas raised

Workshop groups

Need to:

• Decide quickly on a ‘scribe’ and ‘feedback presenter’

• Be constructive and consider all options raised (within timescale)

• Use your own practical experience and ideas

• Consider how other shops good ideas can be adapted to your own use

Workshop groups

…… and be ready to feedback to the main group in

30 minutes only!

BUT you will only have 5 minutes to

feedback your ideas !

Any questions?

Feedback

Don’t forget – you only have 5 minutes for you to present your

list!

Training

Retail Skills – Service, selling, layout, presentation etc.

IT Skills – website design/management, database, graphics … and more

Management Skills – marketing, people management, cash flow etc.

Specialist skills – e.g. Bookkeeping etc.

Contact Information

Malcolm Clark 07749 706 654

malcolmclark@businesslinkwm.co.uk

Paul Ford/Retail Workshop 01926 431522

info@retailworkshop.co.uk

Question/Answer session

Your chance to ask the panel on any retail/business improvement related topic:

Business Link Advisor

Local council/BID representative

Retail Workshop Ltd

Research

• Customers prefer good local shops

• Customers prefer to see the same faces

• Expect a better service from their local shops

• Have to be competitively priced

• MUST enjoy their shopping trip (or they’ll go elsewhere next time)

• Need to feel that they’re made welcome and not an intrusion

• Your reputation is key to more customers and footfall

• Customers expect YOU to be experts in your field

Bad news

Competitors will continue to ‘cherry pick’ your better products

There will continue to be a squeeze on prices and margins

The internet will not go away – buying and researching online (by consumers) will continue/grow

Customer service expectations are getting even higher – shoppers want better service levels

Good news

Use of internet and IT technology is available to all businesses – good prices/ease of use/training

House prices are (slowly) starting to move – up!

The role of the independent shops is now seen as crucial to local economies

Customers WANT to shop with you / WANT (good) independents

BUT

Your improvements won’t happen on their own!

You will need to:

• Be proactive

• Be constructively critical of your own operation

• Work hard on your weaknesses

• Plan, manage and control your own improvement actions

In short ……………………………

…. it’s up to YOU

Many thanks for your time tonight

Hope you found it worthwhile

Hope you’ll put into action the ideas YOU have generated (can you afford NOT too?).

Look back in the handout information available from tonight

Follow up help from Business Link West Midlands

Have a safe journey home