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Consult Retail: Supporting the Higher Education sector.
Consult Retail will soon be celebrating its 2nd year in business. When Anne Clewley set up the company it was to do 2 things:
- To support retail businesses through the current climate
- Assist Higher Education organisations to develop and deliver better retail, to maximise retail performance and generate an increased surplus to support the institution further.
Anne’s passion to deliver on these 2 objectives has not waned and her enthusiasm to find cost effective solutions for clients, and the Higher Education sector as a whole, is unwavering.
In addition to supporting HE clients on individual projects, the University Retail website and the launch of training seminars, devoted to developing retail skills within the sector, are testament to these endeavors.
Supporting Higher Education is woven into the very fabric of Consult Retail. For example, all courses run by the company are held at venues within the sector.
Several HE organsiations have asked for help to support their member universities and student unions. These partnerships underline the very essence of Consult Retail’s work.
Convenience stores, book shops, branded merchandise or entire retail centres; one off projects to strategic plans or a ‘retailer on call’ Consult Retail continues to provide a service tailored to your needs.
Supporting the Higher Education sector is one of Consult Retail’s corner stones. There are many challenges ahead and the company looks forward to doing all that it can to support its colleagues, clients and partners.
Anne Clewley “Leamington’s Queen of Shops”
Warwickshire Life’s October edition features a 6 page article on retail consultant Anne Clewley, of Consult Retail.
Anne discussed some of the highs and lows of Leamington Spa’s retail, a town which has faced increasing competition in recent years.
“I am always delighted to share my passion for retail and what can be done to maximise performance,” she said, “so I was thrilled to be invited to talk to the team at ‘Warwickshire Life’.”
Anne Clewley interviewed for ‘Warwickshire Life’.
Anne Clewley of Consult Retail was interviewed last week for an article to feature in ‘Warwickshire Life’.
“I am always delighted to share my passion for retail and what can be done to maximise performance,” she said, “so I was thrilled to be be invited to talk to the team at ‘Warwickshire Life’.”
The article is planned for the October publication.
Business Link features Anne Clewley, Consult Retail
Anne Clewley, Consult Retail
Anne Clewley will feature in the new Business Link publication “Running your Business”. Anne was selected from a number of businesses to feature in the guide.
In addition to the publication, Consult Retail is hoping to be featured in an editorial piece alongside the Business Link advert in ‘Mind your business’ magazine in July.
“I am delighted to be asked to feature within these publications and hope that my story will help inspire others who would like to run their own business.”
Anne Clewley: “Warwickshire’s own Mary Portas”
I recently delivered a motivational presentation to the Elite Travel Group’s Annual Conference entitled “Raising the Standard”, with an audience of over 100 including independent travel agents, Elite Group members and suppliers.
The organisation consists predominantly of smaller independent travel agents most of which have been in business for many years.
In need of a ‘retail guru’ for their Annual Travel Conference, I was recommended to the Elite Travel Group by a business colleague of Sally Carrick – the Vice Chair of the organisation.
The brief was to remind the audience of the essential marketing basics and at the same time to inspire them to move forward and sharpen the image of their business.
“Anne grasped the crux of the brief immediately and presented clearly and forcibly to the attendees. I found Anne very personable and interested in the brief.” said Sally Carrick. “She presented well and ‘looked the part’ as Warwickshire’s own Mary Portas. Following the conference The Elite Travel Group received favourable comments on her performance.”
I enjoyed this piece of work immensely so it is fantastic to receive such great feedback. As a fan of Mary’s work, I am delighted to be compared to such a legend!
Thank you again to the Elite Group for inviting me to speak!
Anne Clewley speaks at Elite Travel Group Annual Conference
Anne Clewley speaking at the Elite Group Conference 2010
The Royal Caribbean’s “Independence of the Seas” was the venue for the Elite Travel Group’s Annual Conference entitled “Raising the Standard”, held last week from 2nd to 5th June 2010.
Asked to present at the conference, Anne delivered a motivational presentation to an audience of over 100 including independent travel agents, Elite Group members and suppliers.
“I am passionate about helping retail businesses to maximise their business performance and I am just plain obsessive about supporting them to deliver the highest standards of service to their customers” she said. “Being asked to present to the independent travel agencies on this subject, in such a splendid environment was an opportunity not to be missed!”
The focus of the presentation “Raising the Bar” was differentiation, how to ensure their independent travel businesses stand out from the competition. It covered 5 main topics looking at the customer, company values, operation, environment and team.
Anne discussed how improving performance in any one of these areas will deliver results, but by working on every area will produce a meaningful impact, an impact to ensure a business stands head and shoulders above the rest.
“If a business works to ensure their operation, environment and team are focussed on the customer and underpinned by their values,” she explained, “they will ensure their business stands out from the crowd.”
Retail Photography Competition to support Blog Launch
Consult Retail is has launched its new blog and an electronic newsletter.
These communication channels, in addition to the website and social media pages, require great photography of shops, product and customers.
With a view to working with others for mutual benefit, I wondered if those of you who run retail businesses would like to share your pictures to use on my communication and promotional material. All photos will be accredited to the individual and if different, the retail business. Links to relevant websites will also be included if requested.
As an additional ‘thank you’ to those who would like to share their photos I have launched a competition!
Everyone who sends an appropriate photo will be entered into a prize draw to win a bottle of
Bollinger La Grande Année 2000 Champagne worth £70.00.
The best photograph received, as judged by a panel, will win free Retail Support worth £900.
Photos must be retail in nature and could for example include:
- External shots of a shop
- Shop windows
- Internal photos of displays
- Product or products
- Shopping street (if permission granted by relevant bodies.)
- Customers within a shop (with customers’ permission)
- Webpage of online retail business
- Show or exhibition stand
Send your photos to Anne at ach@consultretail.co.uk by 31st July 2010 and you could not only win one of these great prizes, you could also see your business further promoted.
Good Luck!
Terms
- Competition ends 30th June 2010. Photos received after that date may still be used but will not be entered into the two competitions.
- By sending photos you are agreeing to the terms of the competition.
- Copyright of any photos must be owned by the business submitting the photos.
- By sending photos you give Consult Retail Limited the licence and permission to use the images free of charge in its communication and promotional material including for example website, blog, social media, PR, electronic and printed newsletter.
- Photos may be used by Consult Retail Limited prior to the competition deadline 30th June 2010.
- Please ensure you have the permission of the owner of the shop or product, any individual included within the photo.
- Photographs taken by professional photographers to promote a retail business will also be accepted, with the retailer’s permission.
- The judges’ decision is final.
- No cash alternatives to the prizes.
- The Retail Support will be given to the business photographed which must be within England, Wales or Scotland.
- Competition is open to both WiRE and non WiRE members.
Welcome to the Consult Retail blog!
I am always to talking to my clients about trying something new – and now it’s my turn!
For those of you who know me you will know I am passionate about customer service.
There is much written on this subject and the ethos of many companies is structured around attempting to “focus on the customer” or to “put the customer first” or “at the centre” of everything they do. However it is what happens day in day out on the shop floor, at the end of the phone or the “customerservices@” that sorts out those who really have the customer at its heart and those who give it lip service.
“In the current climate” is a phrase we all speak of, read and hear about several times a day. It is true that at times like these there is no place for complacency. Customers spend their pound more carefully than ever, and are more selective about where their spend it. Those who strive to deliver exceptional customer service, those who attempt to delight the customer, to truly value them and their business will make more headway in these turbulent times. This might sound obvious to us all, but it surprises me on a daily basis how many retail businesses large and small on the high street, the web and mail order companies fail to understand and fail to deliver for their customer.
As I challenge my clients, I also ask myself constantly what I can do to deliver improved customer service. Over the last couple of years for example this has lead to new services being introduced and new ways of charging to reduce costs to the client.
Clients have told me the passion I have for my subject coupled with my motivation to drive their businesses forward is inspirational and rouses them to action. Some have asked if I could provide a “Motivational Monday” or daily call to propel them into the week or day, to help them focus on what really matters.
Priding myself on being a consultant who delivers more action than action plans, the question became: How can I reach more people and support them in their endeavours to deliver successful retail businesses?
So here it is the Consult Retail blog! Over the coming weeks I will share tips, opinions and industry updates. It will be my view on the retail world all with one primary goal – helping you and your business to flourish!
I pose just one challenge to you! Please let me know what you think! Let me know if there are subjects you would like me to cover and let me know how I can help you most. For you are my customer and you are what matters most to me!