Mary shared her tricks and tips learnt from her years at the cutting edge of retail. She continually aims to show you how to get the most out of shops and shopping.
A new approach Created by Skillsmart Retail, the Sector Skills Council for Retail, the Mary Portas guide to successful retailing is aimed at giving small and independent retailers the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to compete in today’s tough retail landscape.
Mary explains: “We’re losing independents from our high street, we have huge multiples that are driving in with sophisticated operations and we need to bring that sophistication and knowledge in a different way to the independent sector.”
Mary added: “We’re losing independents from our high streets, we have huge multiples that are driving in with sophisticated operations and we need to bring that sophistication and knowledge in a different way to the independent sector.
“I’ve been working with Skillsmart Retail because they have the infrastructure and the ability to really make this happen. I’ve worked with them on the vision and they have developed an incredible training course that I’m proud to put my name to.”
Delivered exclusively though the National Skills Academy for Retail’s network of 31 retail skills shops on high streets and in shopping centres throughout the country, the master classes comprise easy to understand step-by-step guides, interactive workshops, video case studies and Mary’s own unique wealth of retail knowledge. Each gives the hints and tips needed to turn a store into a productive, high-performing business.
The master classes cover 7 key areas: •My shop, my future:
Building, mobilising and maintaining a vision for your business
•Retail finance and business planning: Understanding the key financial factors driving your business
•Buying for your customer: Buying products to attract and keep customers and deliver profit
•Selling and service skills: Standing out from the crowd with customer service that brings success
•Creating desire: Visual merchandising and the ‘wow’ factor to set your shop apart from the rest
•Marketing for more customers: Spreading the word about your business without spending the earth
•You and your team: Developing both you and your team to create a forward- looking, successful business
Retail is worth £321bn to the UK economy and the existence of a strong and diverse independent sector on our high streets is essential to ensuring its continuing success.
The National Skills Academy for Retail’s network of retail skills shops will deliver the master classes as part of its commitment to driving up skills levels across the retail sector.
Anne Seaman, Chief Executive of Skillsmart Retail told WorkLife: “We all know that small towns and villages and high streets up and down the country are suffering in the current economic climate, but it is really important that we have a range of retail on the high streets and this programme will really help independent retailers make their offer more attractive to their local customers.”
Mary added: “It’s actually a real look at how to compete against the massive high street today and train up independents in every facet of retailing that’s relevant to modern retailing. If anyone wants to join, go to
www.nsaforretail.com.”
WorkLife wanted to find out more about the sector which has seen retail giants disappear with the recession. We caught up with Jane Rexworthy, Head of the National Skills Academy for Retail.
Jane has been responsible for establishing a UK-wide network retail skills shops offering world class training for the retail sector.
Before moving to her current role, Jane spent five years as Skillsmart Retail’s National Manager for England and was involved in creating partnerships in the English regions and developing the concept for the National Skills Academy for Retail.
Jane has worked in and around the retail sector for more than 25 years in store management, training and HR.
continued overleaf...
WORK - 23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74