Rhyl’s retail sector has been given a fantastic opportunity that could help improve our shopping offer dramatically, in a time when it is needed most.
Skill Smart Retail is coming to town to assess our performance using a number of different tests and assessments. This is not to criticise but to commend good work already going on and to make tangible recommendations on how we can improve and get more people shopping in our town, but most of all ensuring that they enjoy their experience and return again and again.
With a combination of economic downturn, an increase in online shopping and out of town retail parks, our town centres have clearly suffered. This is a nationwide issue and not specific to Rhyl. Luckily there are ways we can change this and Skill Smart Retail are on board to help.
Denbighshire County Council, in partnership with Rhyl Business Group, is working with Skill Smart Retail to develop the project.
Cllr David Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Regeneration, said “We are very fortunate to have this audit done on Rhyl’s shopping offer and it could really help boost the town’s retail economy. I encourage retailers to seize the opportunity to take part.”
The project is aimed at independent retailers. The company will send in their mystery shoppers who are trained in assessing customer service. They will also do street interviews with 100 shoppers to ask about their experiences of shopping in the town. In addition, they will look at signage, accessibility, customer service, product knowledge and window displays.
At the end of audit, there will be an event with an award ceremony for the best performing retailers. Skill Smart Retail will also publish a report with the findings of all of their research, as well as recommendations and they will signpost retailers to relevant courses and training opportunities available at Llandrillo College. All individual information will be confidential. The scheme is about improving the shopping experience as a whole and encouraging excellence. This has already been done in over 90 UK towns with fantastic results.
Over the next few weeks, we will be approaching independent retailers to ask for their consent to take part which we must have to include them in the project. There will be no cost to the retailers. If you are an independent retailer in Rhyl and you would like to be part of this fantastic project, please contact Rhyl Going Forward on 01824706484 or email [email protected].
