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After a number of years attempting to gently wind down my role as The Shop Doctor I have finally taken the decision that now is the time to call it a day.

That said I am still watching the retail sector very closely and will continue to have opinions regarding decisions being taken that will impact on the vitality of our town centres and rural communities.

Whilst during the wind down time I have somewhat neglected to post my thoughts on this website, or via social media, I am however intending to regenerate such activity in the near future  –  at least that’s the plan!

My time working in, and with, the retail sector has equipped me with a wealth of experience that I have been only to happy to share, I will miss the hands on opportunity to meet with business operators and visit their businesses but always happy to take a call from the very many businesses that I have had the pleasure to advise over my time as a consultant.

Wishing you all well,

Bill

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The first 101 places to benefit from up to £25 million each from the Future High Streets Fund was announced over summer. The latest step of the £3.6 billion investment in towns and high streets is the selection of 20 pilot areas across England that, it is hoped, will lead the way in rejuvenating town centres following the provision of expert and tailored support from the High Streets Task Force.

14 of these 20 pilot areas were announced on 30th December.

During 2020, the Government is planning to invest hundreds of millions of the £1 billion Future High Streets Fund  across the country in projects that have emerged within the initial towns already announced.

The 14 areas identified for tailored support are:

  1. Salford – Swinton Town Centre
  2. Croydon – Thornton Heath
  3. Staffordshire Moorlands – Cheadle
  4. Rushmoor – Aldershot Town Centre
  5. Birmingham – Stirchley
  6. Hyndburn – Accrington Town Centre
  7. South Lakeland – Kendal
  8. Preston – Friargate
  9. Coventry – Coventry City Centre
  10. Hartlepool – Hartlepool Town Centre
  11. Cheshire West and Chester – Ellesmere Port Town Centre
  12. Sandwell – West Bromwich Town Centre
  13. Knowsley – Huyton Town Centre
  14. Manchester – Withington District Centre

for further information click here

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This opportunity has now been taken up and the available space is providing a superb setting for an established  Holistic Therapist who was seeking relocation to a more relaxing and quieter environment than the health club from which she had previously worked.

The combination of an holistic therapist within a furniture showroom may seem an odd one but, for all concerned, the partnership is working very well.

Click here  to find out more about the treatments available or visit Lakeland Fells Furniture  or  Special Spaces  for more information about bespoke furniture or fitted kitchens.

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A superb opportunity has become available to share a showroom currently occupied by a well established Windermere based bespoke furniture design and manufacturer, Lakeland Fells Furniture Ltd.

The showroom trades under the name ‘Special Spaces’ and specialises in the display of fitted kitchen and bedroom furniture, an alternative offer to the hand crafted furniture produced by Lakeland Fells Furniture at their nearby workshop.

Currently accessible via the existing kitchen showroom the two offices/showroom suites and separate storage area could be provided with their own entrance and be self-contained.

Alternatively there might be much to be gained from a business compatible with home rejuvenation sharing the entrance and the established footfall.

With three differently presented areas the space is just waiting for the right occupant. Whether it be interior design, creative arts, upholstery, soft furnishings, lifestyle, lighting or just something quirky this is the ideal opportunity for operating alongside this existing business.

For further details call Bill on 07766 208082 or email bill@lets-talk-shop.co.uk

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Windermere Works offers a great range of accommodation meeting the diverse needs of modern business from Hot Desking, shared Jelly Space to dedicated office space.

If you are looking for a place to meet they offer the  Meeting Place with break out area.

If considering the opportunity that might be  provided by moving your home base to a business address  why not try Hot Desking, a great place to network with other small but vibrant businesses.

If needing dedicated space for a number staff, but not yet ready to take on a lease, have a look at the flexible Jelly Space – a dedicated area within an open office environment offered on easy in/easy out terms.

If you would like four walls and a door that locks at night take a look at the various office suites currently available. Individual fully serviced office space for between 1 and 8 staff available now.

If a self-contained large studio suite might be more your thing they currently have one of those as well.

Finally if you are just looking to do a mornings work whilst visiting the Lake District on holiday or business they can assist with that as well.

At Lets Talk Shop we are pleased to be managing the Windermere Works facility so if we can help  Windermere Works, work for you just give Bill a call on 07766 208082 or email bill@windermereworks.com

Find out more by visiting the Windermere Works website by clicking here.

Download their digital brochure : WW Digital Brochure

 

 

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Following a recent revisit to high street shops in Haddington, Musselburgh, North Berwick, Dunbar and Prestonpans our Shop Doctor is now busy producing reports updating recommendations made to the participating businesses during this fourth phase of work for East Lothian Council.

Many of the businesses had already benefited from the recommendations with some able to move forward to implement some of the more challenging opportunities within their shops.

One, Blueberry had recently moved premises to a similar shaped but larger shop and  transferred many of the ideas relating to potential improvements within their old shop into the new one.

Dunbar Community Bakery had undergone the most extensive work delivering a much brighter and more attractive interior that was not only an improvement for customers but made working within the shop much easier. Hopefully the excellent upgrade will help enhance sales and onward profitability.

The relocated counter at Flowers by Arrangement in Musselburgh had materially improved accessibility around the shop by opening up the entrance and exposing more of the shelving on the right hand side. Still more improvements to come, especially to the  lighting.

 

 

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For the last 12 months Lets Talk Shop Ltd has been advising on, and managing, the major refurbishment and transformation of Windermere Business Centre into “Windermere Works”.

The concept to provide more flexible working  space was identified in response to the recognition that many small, locally based businesses work from their spare bedrooms, converted garages or dining room tables. Business meetings are often centered on local cafes which, whilst providing a pleasant social environment, might not be the best of locations to openly discuss complex or confidential business issues.

This  need has been resolved by the creation of a Hot Desk Hub, Meeting Place and Lounge available on a day basis or on a more permanent relationship where a range of bespoke business support opportunities can be incorporated into the arrangements. These could include call handling, mail management, hosting of seminars or special events. The facilities are also supported by a manned reception delivering a professional  first point of contact for those visiting the premises and the businesses working within them.

Add to this the development of two larger fully serviced ground floor office suites, Bake House and Sugar Store and the refurbishment of smaller existing offices on the first floor,  businesses seeking to expand their presence in the town, or even relocate into the area, now have an opportunity to occupy a high standard office environment, very different from other accommodation available locally.

With further phases of development in the pipeline the building, that was for many years  home to Atkinsons Cake Works, is seeing a transformation that will ensure that Windermere Works for Businesswell into the future.

Click here for pdf mini brochure

Contact Windermere Works

Bake House Information Brochure

Sugar Store Information Brochure

 

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The Shop Doctor will be returning to East Lothian at the end of January to revisit businesses in Haddington, Dunbar, North Berwick and Cockenzie.

“This will be my 6th trip to East Lothian” says Bill, “it is always good to catch up with the great range of retail operators that have previously participated in my Let’s Talk Shop Advisory programmes”.

Dependent upon retailer interest it is hoped that a further round of Let’s Talk Shop support will be facilitated later in the year in conjunction with East Lothian Council.

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Shopfront changes-page-001 (3) - Copy

In my recent revisit to retailers in Kirkcudbright it was pleasing to see that many had taken on board recommendations made to them following  my original one-to-one visits.

Internal changes implemented  within many of the shops was identified as helping to materially improve the way customers “shopped the shop” and contributed towards a more active retail environment during what had not been the best of trading years.

Grant assistance from Dumfries  &  Galloway Council had also enabled a number of the businesses to upgrade their shopfront presentation and the examples show some after (on the left) and before (on the right) images of a small selection of the businesses visited.

Whilst some changes are quite subtle (such  the graphics in the window at Belfry Cafe) and the simple repaint at Wm Law other retailers such as Kennedy’s and Tollbooth Gifts have delivered more  dynamic change and materially improved their impact in the town.

With the majority of shops in Kirkcudbright occupied the town presented a varied and active retail environment and, like so many of the towns in Dumfries & Galloway,  one well worth visiting.

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sldcExcellent evening with the team from  Invest in South Lakeland at their Business Event at The Low Wood Hotel in Windermere last night with fellow speakers Nick Comer, Rosetta Brands Ltd and Justin Grammer, PS Business Matters.

Thought provoking and entertaining insight into the effective use of the ever changing world of Social Media from Justin and always  enlightening to hear the story of the online development of Rosetta Brands.

Justin Grammer
Justin Grammer
Nick Comer
Nick Comer

 

and me!
Bill Smith

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Jamie Reed MP for Copeland had recently asked a parliamentary question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to whether he plans to offer deadline extensions for tax due by businesses affected by flooding in Cumbria.

His response:

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) operates a dedicated Severe Weather helpline to offer help and advice on any tax matters to those people and businesses affected by the recent flooding. The helpline is 0800 904 7900

Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 8.00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, excluding bank holidays.

HMRC will also:

  • consider instalment arrangements where customers are unable to pay as a result of the floods;
  • agree a practical approach when individuals and businesses have lost vital records to the floods;
  • suspend debt collection proceedings for those affected by the floods; and
  • cancel penalties when the customer has missed statutory deadlines due to the floods.