Retail - Help create a stronger business environment for Retailers
One of the five business sectors identified for extra support from Haringey City Growth (HCG) is the Retail Sector. We have already met with the Town Centre Managers from the Council and with the Totttenham Traders’ Representative, and have agreed that we will concentrate on Turnpike Lane, Tottenham High Road and Green Lanes especially.
As a business operating in this sector we are inviting you to take advantage of this major business-led and government-backed initiative – get involved with Haringey City Growth which is designed to help businesses like yours, to flourish and grow, becoming more successful and profitable.
How will it work?
1. Tell us what your business needs are
To ensure that future services and support respond to what businesses need, we need to ask as many businesses involved in this sector as possible, to tell us what you need and what pressures you face.
We have developed a short questionnaire and your replies will help us draw up a ‘Business Plan’ setting out what needs to be done.
Retailers have already told us that some key issues are:
• Lack of parking
• Crime
• High business rates
• Too many regulations
• Increasing visitors/shoppers
• Support for training (including Customer Services)
• Marketing advice, including shop layout and window display
• Environmental issues
2. Join the Cluster Action Team
A Cluster Action Team (CAT), comprised of ten or more retailers, is being created and will capitalise on their combined business know-how to provide direction, determine priorities and then draw up a Business Plan. The London College of Communications in partnership with Miles Parker of Linx Associates Ltd, has specialist knowledge of the retail sector, and have been engaged as the Retail Cluster Developers. They are already working closely with key Retailers. Call Miles and have your say – his details are below.
3. Draw up The Business Plan
The Business Plan will be finalised by December 2007, but only after it has been agreed with a representative group of businesses in this sector in Haringey – hopefully including you!
Specifically, we aim to:
• Decide how to spend the allocated CAT budget to best benefit the sector
• Hold a number of ‘Mystery Shopper’ retail audit visits
• Hold two general Network Meetings, open to all local retail businesses
• Hold four CAT meetings – between now and the end of the year
• Start one key initiative, around which retailers can rally, that will help increase your business or tackle a business issue or provide training
We have linked up with a variety of important organisations including the London College of Communication (LCC) that can provide specialist support, extra resources and where we can draw on their national expertise for small retailers; the information will then be presented at the meetings.
Action: Let us know what would make your business stronger….
If you have not been contacted by us directly and want to know more about this initiative, please call or email Miles Parker, as below. It WILL be worth your while – the more businesses that tell us about their needs, the more likely that HCG can address them.
Cluster Developer - Miles Parker
Linx Associates Ltd
T: 020 8520 8180/07976 618189
E: milesp@linxassociates.co.uk
www.linxassociates.co.uk
