Shopping for Success was a special seminar held at The Kingscliff Hotel, 55 Kings Parade, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 5JB to help retailers combat the recession in partnership with Tendring District Council, Business Link East, Association of Town Centre Management, Eureka Sales Solutions Limited and Clacton Independent Traders Association in support of Essex Air Ambulance.

 

Funding for the event was provided by Tendring District Council and Business Link East.

 

Chairing the event was Essex FSB Chairman Iain Wicks.

 

100% Satisfaction

When the evaluation forms were analyhsed after the event 80.77% of those attending were very satisfied with the event and 19.23% were fairly satisfied while 96.43% now had a better understanding of the support available and 82.14% felt their business will directly benefit from attending the event.

 

Speakers included:

 

Setting the Scene was done by Councillor Neil Stock, Executive Leaderof Tendring District Council

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Bone, Business Link Partnership Director spoke on how Business Link East was the right choice for real help for retailers

 

 

 

 

 

 

The National Scene – is it as bad as all that? was the topic for Martin Blackwell, Association of Town Centre Management

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep Trade Local – how the FSB can help was explained by David Miles, Essex FSB Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to build Customer Loyalty at no cost to businesses or customers was described in detail by Kim Ward, Clacton Independent Traders Association Programme

 

 

 

 

Beat the Recession and Boost your Sales – top tips on effective marketing was the main presentation of the evening with Steve Clarke, Your Virtual Sales Director of Eureka Sakes Solutions Limited giving a fast moving, information packed series of practical ideas.

 

 

 

 

What next and how can we help? was the theme for Councillor Carlo Guglielmi, Cabinet Member for Community Partnerships and Renewal, Tendring District Council

 

 

 

 

Concluding the event was Dave Clark of Essex FSB who summarised the event superbly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefits

During this seminar more than 90 local retailers discovered

• How to attract new enquiries like a magnet
• How simple changes to your web site could triple your sales
• Six ways to grow your business whatever market you're in
• How to earn more profit with less blood sweat and tears
• The seven major marketing blunders retailers make…… and how to avoid them!

and much, much more.

There were no gimmicks, no teasers, just fast paced, no nonsense, real marketing strategies you can takeaway and implement immediately.

 

From Curtains to Cushions to Cash!

 

Newsquest Essex presented one lucky winner with £500 worth of advertising in the Clacton and Frinton Gazette and the Harwich and Manningtree Standard as well as the on line newspapers.

 

 

 

Newsquest Essex Advertisement Manager Duncan Robinson presented the cheque to

Beverley Marshall of Curtains to Cushions assisted by Tendring District Council Executive Leader Councillor Neil Stock and Essex FSB Chairman Iain Wicks.

 

Market Place

After the speeches a Market Place was available with 10 exhibitors sharing details of how they can help retailers combat the recession.

 

Essex FSB had an Information Stand packed with details of campaigns and membership benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other exhibitors also proved popular.