How do you think retail been affected by the recession? “I think the recession has stripped the wheat from the chaff and encouraged success for those who understand the skills and needs of their staff such as Primark and John Lewis. Those who have failed have lost their uniqueness and lost touch with their own staff.”
Mary Portas seems to be successful with social media with over 25,000 followers on Twitter, how have you found the experience working with her? “We’ve found that there’s something for everyone on the workshops and new ways of multi channelling as a retailer, such as using social media is happening right now.
WORKLIFE READER OFFER
WORKLIFE OFFER YOU THE CHANCE TO BE A PART OF THE UK’S MOST SOUGHT-AFTER RETAIL TRAINING…
Three full days of retail training and two nights in central London are being offered to small business owners and managers from across the UK, courtesy of Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail.
Four lucky retailers will win the chance to attend the most popular three master classes from the hugely successful ‘Mary Portas Guide to Successful Retailing’, which launched in July this year.
Created by Skillsmart Retail and inspired by the Queen of Shops herself, the seven master class programme is aimed at giving small and independent retailers the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to compete in today’s tough retail landscape.
In just seven weeks, the ‘Mary Portas Guide to Successful Retailing’ has seen hundreds of delegates attend master classes across the country with bookings continuing to flood in. There are currently 183 master classes planned in the coming months with more being arranged all the time.
The bespoke scholarship package, worth well over £1,000, will see the four winners complete the three most popular master classes over three days from 25th to 27th January 2011, in central London.
The three master classes are:
• MY SHOP, MY FUTURE: Building, mobilising and maintaining a vision for your business
• SELLING AND SERVICE SKILLS: Standing out from the crowd with customer service that brings success
• CREATIVE DESIRE: Visual merchandising and the ‘wow’ factor to set your shop apart from the rest
24 - WORK
Locations running the master classes: Tyne & Wear, West Yorkshire, Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Black Country, West Midlands, Buckinghamshire, London, Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Avon, Dorset
...more to come
As well as the fees and all course materials, the prize covers two nights’ accommodation in central London with breakfast, and lunch on all three days. And as with all master classes, training will be delivered by retail experts, quality assured by the National Skills Academy for Retail.
Anne Seaman, Chief Executive of Skillsmart Retail said: “Mary Portas is regarded by everyone as one of this country’s leading retail experts and the master classes have proved a huge hit for small and medium retailers.These scholarships are a great opportunity for the winning retailers to experience three of the master classes and learn how they can really push themselves and their businesses forward.”
To enter the competition and to download an application form, please visit
www.nsaforretail.com/maryportasscholarships Closing date 16th October 2010.
For more information on the ‘Mary Portas Guide to Successful Retailing’, please visit
www.nsaforretail.com/maryportasmasterclasses
“Attending such master classes will help keep you at the top of your game.
“In her latest TV series ‘Mary Queen of Shops’, Mary received over 7,000 applicants, however only 6 got to work with her. The master class allows so many more to benefit from her advice and experience. And furthermore, we believe they allow retailers to share best practice between each other and share their own stories and experience.”
What advice would you give to retailers in the North West? “Always keep and open mind and remember that you never know enough.”
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