Free business support for rural shops

(Date of issue: Friday, 12 February 2010)

Rural shops in the Carlisle area, recovering from the recession, are being offered free business support from a local ‘Shop Doctor’.

Carlisle City Council is funding the £20,000 scheme that will provide specialist advice on how to make the most of window displays; how a shop and its goods are laid out; and how to improve customer care.

As part of the initiative, one to one ‘shop reviews’ are available from Bill Smith aka the ‘Shop Doctor’, a specialist in helping rural shops improve their businesses.

Evening workshops based around ‘First Impressions’ and ‘Making Space Work’ are also available. Each workshop lasts a couple of hours and allows local business people to swap ideas with fellow retailers.

Cllr Marilyn Bowman, Portfolio holder for Economy, said:

“Using money that we’ve set aside to help local rural businesses recover from the recession, we hope to support around 40 local businesses. The programme is over five phases and covers everything from how to improve the outside and inside of a shop, to customer care. Rural businesses have a lot of offer our communities and this scheme is an opportunity that they shouldn’t miss.”

The new programme has the support of the Brampton Economic Partnership. Their Chair, Hazel Broatch added:

"The Partnership wants the Brampton Area to be a place where people choose to come (time after time) because they have had a great experience. We are, therefore, delighted that the area will benefit from this free scheme."

The ‘Shop Doctor’ scheme will be launched next Tuesday (16 February), at 10am, at the Half Moon Wholefood shop in Brampton. Bill Smith will on hand to give co-shop owners, Alison Cheetham and Kathleen Ward, some tips on how to improve their business.

To book a review or a place on the workshop, telephone Elaine Tullet at South Lakes Development Trust on 015394 40020 or email reception@sdlt.co.uk