Independent retailers across Warwickshire are joining forces to support each other’s attempts to attract more customers.
On behalf of Warwickshire County Council, the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has started delivering free digital support to help independent retailers across the county increase trade, as part of the Warwickshire Towns Network Programme.
Business owners across the whole of Warwickshire are being given advice on how to use social media, how to enhance in-store shopping experiences to counter the functionality of online retail, and how to build better digital networks in their local area.
Local company, Stories Marketing – which has a background in retail and expertise in social media – started delivering the series of free workshops in January in Rugby, Nuneaton, Leamington and Stratford.
And, on the back of the first workshops, several retailers across the county have already formed an online group to offer each other tips and support on how to grow.
Sam Yair, of Stories Marketing, encouraged local retailers to find out more about the remaining workshops to be held in February and March.
She said: “The first workshops were a great success. We had a good variety of retailers – some of which had a working knowledge of social media but wanted tips on how to improve, while others had never really dipped their toe into the water.
“Everyone has taken something away that they can implement in their own business to drive footfall, but what has really emerged is just how beneficial the retailers have found it to be in a room with one another.
“Being an independent retailer means it can be hard sometimes to get out and network with your peers, so it was great to bring everyone together and they really started to bounce ideas off each other both in terms of social media and general marketing tips.
“So I’d urge retailers to make sure they attend the final two workshops in the programme. There is also the opportunity for us to go and see the business in action, visit their premises and provide free on site one to one advisory support so they can put into practice what they have learnt.”
Session two - Using digital tools and experiences to create a buzz about your retail business'
Stratford Tuesday 4 February 9:30am – 1pm
Nuneaton Monday 10 February 10am – 1:30pm
Leamington Tuesday 11 February 5pm – 8:30pm
Rugby Wednesday 12 February 9:30am – 1pm
Session three – the digital future for retail businesses
Stratford Tuesday 17 March 9:30 – 1pm
Leamington Tuesday 17 March 5pm – 8:30pm
Nuneaton Monday 23 March 10am – 1:30pm
Rugby Wednesday 15 March 9:30 – 1pm
For more information go to http://towncentres.eventbrite.com or contact Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on 02476 654321 (Option 4).
Pictured: Sam Yair and Emma Woodward from Stories Marketing