Free support programme for independent retailers in Warwickshire starts this month
Warwickshire retailers looking to increase their online presence and bring more shoppers to the county are being encouraged to attend free digital sessions that will begin at the end of January.
On behalf of Warwickshire County Council, the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce will be 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 will be given advice on how to use social media, how to enhance 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 – will deliver the series of free workshops around the county between January 27 and March 23.
They will range from using Instagram and Facebook to drive sales through to the digital future of retail businesses.
Keely Hancox, Operations Manager of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said it was an exciting opportunity for independent retailers to begin 2020 by finding new ways to grow their business.
She said: “We are very pleased to be able to reveal the dates for our workshops across Warwickshire as we look to support our small independents.
“The future of the high street is something that is very high profile, with the new Government offering increased reductions to business rates.
“A recent survey also showed that a significant percentage of small retailers have no digital presence at all – yet the majority of their customers are online.
“So these workshops come at the perfect time and will help independents in Warwickshire to tap into Stories Marketing’s expertise in this field and really drive footfall into their business.”
Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Councillor Izzi Seccombe, said: “We are pleased to commissioning the digital skills for retailers and high street businesses for the fourth year running.
“The Warwickshire Towns Network has seen some real success stories since the programme started in 2016. One fifth of retailers on Warwickshire high streets are disconnected from the digital market place. This programme will open up new opportunities for small businesses to build better digital networks in the local area.
“It is wonderful to see small retailers and high street businesses embracing social media, gaining new customers and changing the way they interact with customers and supporting the local economy.”
Session one – using Instagram and Facebook to drive sales in your retail store
- Nuneaton Monday January 27 10am – 1:30pm
- Stratford Tuesday 28 January 9:30am – 1pm
- Leamington Tuesday 28 January 5pm – 8:30pm
- Rugby Wednesday 29 January 9:30am – 1pm
Session two – how to use social media to create a buzz around your 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).
