Welcome Retail Roadshow Profit Improvement Workshop

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WelcomeRetail RoadshowProfit Improvement
Workshop
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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

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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
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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

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Tonights 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

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UK Independent retailing today
UK retail generates 265 billion of turnover
(last 12 months) Retail is Britains 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 !
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UK Independent retailing today

• .And its 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

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UK Independent retailing today

• Things arent easy and they could become even
  harder
• So, how come some independent outlets seem to be
  weathering the storm and some dont?
• Tonights workshop is to look at that highlight
  and discuss practical ideas on .

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Workshop group action
.. actions that YOU have taken that
haveIncreased 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
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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

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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

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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?
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Feedback
Dont forget you only have 5 minutes for you to
present your list!
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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.
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Contact Information
Malcolm Clark 07749 706 654 malcolmclark_at_busin
esslinkwm.co.uk Paul Ford/Retail Workshop 01926
431522 info_at_retailworkshop.co.uk
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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
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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 theyll go
  elsewhere next time)
• Need to feel that theyre made welcome and not
  an intrusion
• Your reputation is key to more customers and
  footfall
• Customers expect YOU to be experts in your field

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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
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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

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BUT

• Your improvements wont 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

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. its up to YOU
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Many thanks for your time tonight Hope you found
it worthwhile Hope youll 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