Coleg Llandrillo Cymru, Retail Academy

Book your place today to experience a snapshot of this brand new inspirational programme specifically developed for shop owners and managers.

Created by Skillsmart Retail in conjunction with the retail guru and television star Mary Portas, the programme covers every aspect of running a retail business. The series of seven master classes are delivered exclusively through the National Skills Academy for Retail's network of retail skill shops.

The taster session

Led by specially trained retail trainers, the taster session follows the themes of the full programme inspired by Mary and provides delegates with the opportunity to develop ideas for their own retail businesses.

Typically the taster sessions last around an hour and delegates can get a clear idea of the extent of the benefits the full sessions can bring to their retail businesses.

The taster session aims to introduce shop owners and managers to master class one, My shop, my future. It gives delegates the chance to step outside the constraints of their own business, to work with other like-minded individuals, to explore various retail scenarios.

Building, mobilising and maintaining a vision for your business. Successful brands spend time establishing what it is they do well and, more importantly, what it is they do differently from their competitors. Whether you are dreaming of running your own empire or already at the helm of a retail business that is in need of a boost, you need direction.

Understanding the key factors driving your business and profit. Being clear about your business vision is an essential first step, but turning it into a working model requires a thorough grasp of retail finance and business planning. This interactive step-by-step guide builds on the first Masterclass, ‘My shop, my future’ and gives you the knowledge to construct a robust financial model using effective tools that can help you keep an a eye on the numbers and plan for what to do if things go off track.

Buying the products that will attract customers and deliver profit. Effective buying requires skill, insight and a fantastic commercial eye. Get it right and you deliver profit; get it wrong and it can be a very costly mistake. This Masterclass provides you with all the information, tips and tools to help you get to know your brand, competition and shoppers inside out; in short, the skills to become a great buyer.

Providing an excellent shopper service experience. At its heart, retailing is all about offering a great sales and service experience for the consumer. When done well, retail businesses are inevitably successful, generating enviable sales and profitability. When done badly, retailers struggle and ultimately fail.

Using visual merchandising to create that ‘wow’ factor. Retailing is about passion and great products are just products unless you can excite and inspire customers to buy them. We all know the power that a well-designed shop window can hold over us; in one glance you can be transported into a different world. Through the glass, products come alive in a visual story that compels you to enter the store and part with your hard-earned cash.

Spreading the word about your business without spending the earth. Successful brands spend time and money establishing what it is that they do and how they stand out from their competitors. They then find new and innovative ways of spreading their message, creating an utterly compelling story for their customers through marketing.

Taking you and your team to new heights. Retailing is a team game and if you and your staff aren’t the best you can possibly be, you may find yourself on a losing side. Getting your team to play to their strengths empowers the business and delivers sustainable profit.

Maintaining a healthy balance sheet is critical to any successful business. Achieving this takes planning and forecasting. This accessible course guides you through building a business plan, cash management and monitoring sales, to help your business stay in a positive financial position.

By the end of the course you will:

• Understand the importance of having a business plan and get a guide and template to write one
• Be able to manage your sales and improve your cashflow for maximum impact on your overall business performance
• Understand what makes your business profitable or not: gross profit, capital expenditure, systems and controls, stock turns/levels

Jayne Bransby, Elegant Steps, Wirral
"Since taking the course (and assisted by some additional business mentoring), sales online and in-store at Elegant Steps have increased by 35% over the last year."

Who should attend this course?

Shop owners, managers, supervisors and those looking for specialist expertise in a particular area of retail. If you are thinking of setting up a retail business these courses can give some great ideas and insights based on real life examples.

Delivered over two evenings

Keeping the tills ringing is the top priority for any retailer and requires thoughtful planning, focused activity and creativity. From traditional marketing techniques such as advertising to the opportunities of new social media, this intensive course will provide you with the tools you need to drive sales in your business.

By the end of the course you will:

• Understand the retail marketing mix, know your market and understand your customers using the basic science of shopping
• Learn strategies on how to attract and retain more customers using social media and a customer-focused approach to selling
• The importance of planning and reviewing the marketing activities


Michelle Matthews, Ladies Only Ltd, Rochdale
"I think the biggest lesson I learnt from the course was to put my personality into the business and to run that through every aspect. I was so inspired that I had to jump out of bed at three o’clock in the morning and write down some of the ideas racing through my mind!"

Who should attend this course?


Shop owners, managers, supervisors and those looking for specialist expertise in a particular area of retail. If you are thinking of setting up a retail business these courses can give some great ideas and insights based on real life examples.

Delivered over two evenings

Effective buying and visual merchandising require skill, insight and a well-informed commercial eye. Get it right and you will see your profits increase; if you get it wrong it can prove to be costly for your business. This course will provide you with all the information, tips and tools to help buy, price and display your stock to maximise sales.

By the end of the course you will:

• Know how to buy for profit and maximise product performance
• Understand your customer and create a pleasing and exciting visual experience and really maximise your product placement
• Know the process of the supply chain and its importance in buying seasonal product ranges
• Know how to drive sales through your windows, understand how to maintain customer interest and learn how to attract customers through your doors

Gary Carvosso, Coolings Garden Centre, Kent – bespoke training resulting 50% sales increase year on year.
"We couldn’t be happier with the training we received. The tips and advice given were specific to our business, could be easily implemented and have produced outstanding results."

Who should attend this course?


Shop owners, managers, supervisors and those looking for specialist expertise in a particular area of retail. If you are thinking of setting up a retail business these courses can give some great ideas and insights based on real life examples.

Delivered over two evenings

TBA

Is your business delivering first-class customer service?

WorldHost The Principles of Customer Service training developed in Canada was originally created for Expo 86 in Vancouver. Canada used the programme for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and is now ranked consistently among the top countries in the world for the strength of its visitor "welcome".

Bringing world class customer service to the UK

WorldHost The Principles of Customer Service - Retail training is now available in the UK.

The programme has been tailored by Skillsmart Retail for the UK retail sector and is delivered exclusively through the National Skills Academy for Retail.

The benefits of good customer service

• Encourages customer loyalty - happy customers become repeat customers
• Reduces costs to attract new customers
• Helps businesses gain competitive edge - be known as a business who puts the customer first

Participants in this certificated programme will gain valuable skills and techniques and be eligible to wear the WorldHost pin badge which recognises customer service excellence.

What will delegates learn?

• An understanding of the value of retail to the UK
• The importance of excellent customer service
• The skills of effective communication
• How to listen to customers and respond effectively to their needs
• The lifetime value of a customer to the business
• The five key principle commitments that enable staff to 'go the extra mile'

Are your staff ready to sell?

WorldHost Sales Powered by Service training developed in Canada was originally created for Expo 86 in Vancouver. Canada used the programme for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and is now ranked consistently among the top countries in the world for the strength of its visitor "welcome."

Bringing world class service and selling skills to the UK

WorldHost Sales Powered by Service - Retail training is now available in the UK.

The programme has been tailored by Skillsmart Retail for the UK retail sector and is delivered exclusively through the National Skills Academy for Retail.

The benefits of good customer service selling skills

• Encourages customer loyalty - happy customers become repeat customers
• Reduces costs to attract new customers
• Helps businesses to maximise profit from its most valuable resource - staff!
• Equips your team with the confidence and skills to sell

Participants in this certificated programme will gain valuable skills and techniques and be eligible to wear the WorldHost pin badge which recognises exceptional customer service and selling skills.

What will delegates learn?

• An understanding of the sales cycle and how they can influence customer purchasing decisions
• The value of knowing your products/services by listening to the needs of your customers
• An understand of the impact of 'moments of truth', looking at the business through the eyes of the customer
• The benefits of selling beyond the basics

Are your managers maximising their teams' potential?

WorldHost Frontline Management Solutions training developed in Canada was originally created for Expo 86 in Vancouver. Canada used the programme for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and is now ranked consistently among the top countries in the world for the strength of its visitor "welcome."

Bringing service excellence in retail to the UK

WorldHost Frontline Management Solutions -Retail is now available in the UK.

The programme has been tailored by Skillsmart Retail for the UK retail sector and is delivered exclusively through the National Skills Academy for Retail.

The benefits of good management

• Encourages strong leadership - helps to increase the competitive edge of your business
• Ensures your managers give the right support to their teams - improved customer experience
• Trained managers build relationships with employees - increased employee and company productivity and customer satisfaction

• Participants on this certificated programme will gain valuable skills and techniques and will be eligible to wear the WorldHost pin badge which recognises management excellence.

What will delegates learn?

• An understanding of the key fundamentals which make a good retail manager and the key responsibilities of a frontline manager
• How to create high performing teams and how to coach for high performance
• How to empower the team to deliver excellent customer service
• How to hire and train for success
• How to manage change and productivity while focusing on the customer
• How to implement the above and create winning business strategies

Retail Ambassadors speak up for retail, championing the sector in schools and colleges by offering their first-hand, real-life experience of working within the industry. In so doing, they perform a vital role influencing and inspiring the next generation of retail talent.

We need Ambassadors from shop floor to board room level; motivated people, prepared to relate personal experiences and real life scenarios to help capture the imagination of young people, raise awareness of the diverse range of jobs in retail and present the sector in a positive light. Each Ambassador uses his or her own 'real' experiences to talk to different audiences and encourage them into the profession through either academic or work-based learning routes.

Retail Works is the industry standard pre-employment programme for the retail sector. It is a flexible training scheme which prepares learners new to the sector, by giving them the knowledge to progress through interviews and to start a career in retail. It has been designed to provide those who may be out of work, or who work in a different sector, with the vital skills they need to confidently apply for and secure a job in retail. The programme makes sure learners have the basic skills they need to make a real impact in your retail business.

The programme is flexible to meet the needs of many learner groups including lone parents, the long term unemployed, young people not in education or employment and career changers.

Course content:

• What is retail?
• First impressions last
• Personal effectiveness and teamwork
• Effective customer service
• How are you communicating?
• Product knowledge
• Effective selling skills
• Health and safety and employment rights
• Security
• Job search and interview techniques