Retail gurus on their way
Empty shops in Batley. (d05121101)
retail gurus are on their way to help save our high streets.
As reported in the News last year, a top business consultancy is coming to Batley and Birstall on February 20 to offer expert advice to traders.
Halifax-based firm Insight With Passion announced plans to help turn around declining high street footfall in December.
Retailers can attend a free seminar that focuses on customer service to ensure business booms.
Firms are now asked to email BatleyandBirstall@insightwithpassion.co.uk to book their place and receive further details.
The company is visiting eight Yorkshire towns to try to make empty shops and poor sales a thing of the past.
And Kate Hardcastle, a partner at Insight with Passion, made sure Batley and Birstall were on the list because she had connections with the area.
Her previous work with furniture company Jay-Be meant she would often pop into Batley or Birstall for a spot of lunch break shopping.
Now she plans to bring the company’s unique ‘retail theatre’ strategy to their high streets.
The concept, which focuses on customer experience, looks at a stores’ layout and lighting, smells, scents and customer service to ensure shoppers are drawn into high street stores instead of relying on online shopping or out-of-town outlets.
Kate said: “I firmly believe the problems many retailers face are caused, in some part, by a reduction in customer service, or putting the customer at the heart of their business.
“Customers aren’t a by-product of business, they’re the reason you start.
“Put that back at the heart and you stand a much better chance of getting repeat business and developing a great reputation.”
She added that local identity was also important and encouraged traders to work together to compete with larger chains.
Insight with Passion is also calling for people to nominate stores that offer exceptional customer service for an award.
It sends mystery shoppers to small, independent retailers to put customer-savvy stores on the map and reward them for their sterling service.
Shoppers can email nominate@customerattheheart.co.uk to put a store forward for recognition.
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Weather for Batley
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
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Wind direction: North
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