The first of three free seminars for independent businesses in Weston-super-Mare has gone down a storm, with local shop owners praising the speakers as inspirational.

The first event focused on shop window design and was presented by Gemma Turner, Director for Weston Hospicecare. Gemma received rave reviews from attendees, offering valuable insight into today’s changing retail market.

Cara MacMahon, Heritage Action Zone Officer at North Somerset Council, said: “The feedback we’ve received so far has been phenomenal. We were asked to hold these seminars by local businesses, and they have delivered beyond expectations. I’m looking forward to the remaining seminars and welcoming local independent retailers.”

The final two events in the series will run on Tuesday 15th October and the Tuesday 19th November at Weston Museum in Weston-super-Mare town centre. The free seminars will include:

Tuesday 15 October: Andrew Sharman, founder of South Weston Business Crime Centre, will discuss minimising retail theft.
Tuesday 19 November: Fran Riseley, an Independent Retail consultant, will run a seminar on marketing ideas for independent businesses.

Attendees will also have a chance to win a coaching session for their business.

The seminars will be held in the early evening between 6pm and 8pm (with refreshments from 5.45pm) at Weston Museum. The seminars are free and there is no need to book.

Details for the events can be found here: Free seminars for retailers 2019 (PDF, 114.27 KB)

This programme of seminars is a partnership initiative involving the Great Weston Heritage Action Zone, Weston Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, and Weston Business Improvement District. The seminars have been introduced following regular discussions with independent businesses and are part of the Heritage Action Zones programme of engagement with retailers in Weston. This is in preparation for the rollout of a shopfront enhancement grant scheme later this year.

HAZ is part of the Weston Town Centre Regeneration Programme. The regeneration of Weston-super-Mare has invested significantly into the town centre over the last ten years, creating a vibrant and diverse town focused around living, learning and lifestyle. The council will continue to deliver improvements to key development sites, positively encourage investment and attract more people to live in the town centre, creating an improved local economy that is also sensitive and supportive of our vibrant heritage.

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