Retailers in Wilmslow are coming together to explore ideas and organise events to attract more people into the town centre to shop locally.
Shop owners from the various streets in the town are forming clusters to discuss their ideas and work together on projects to increase footfall for their businesses.
Wilmslow Business Group (WBG) invited retailers to their meeting on Monday, 25th February, to galvanise them into working together to make future events in the town even more successful than the Wilmslow Motor Show.
Speaking at the packed meeting, Catherine Mackenzie, chairwoman of WBG, said "The Wilmslow Motor Show was highly successful, bringing in 20,000 visitors. Lots of people worked really hard to get it sorted and make it so successful but we missed having leisure and retail operators involved in the project."
Catherine added "I implore you if you are a retail or leisure operator and not yet a member of the business group please do think about joining us, getting involved and making events like the Motor Show and other things we are doing benefit your business and the whole of Wilmslow."
Wilmslow Business Group are looking to organise an event specifically for retail and leisure operators in the town so asked the retailers present on Monday what would attract them to this kind of event.
The suggestion of inviting someone along the lines of TV retail expert Mary Portas (except she's very expensive) was dismissed.
Jo Davies, managing director of Black White Denim said "Don't do Mary Portas, she is a insult to anyone that actually tries to run a retail business."
Jo added "We need to hear from people who have truly made a success in their small community by bringing all the different types of businesses together - on every level whether it be fashion, any other retail sector, leisure etc."
Ideas discussed included a trade fair, a music event with workshops, a makeover competition, a fashion show and developing Wilmslow's own currency which will enable shoppers using it to get extra for their money.
Chris Turner, of TLC Computer Servicing, commented "I think there are times when business people, whether they are retailers or not, think of ourselves as being in some kind of cut throat competition with each other. I'm just wondering whether we turn that idea upside down and say there are actually opportunities for businesses in the room and the wider Wilmslow area where the benefits of collaboration and cooperation could be drawn out so that we have an opportunity to form strategic alliances."
In order to get as many people involved as possible, one retailer has taken responsibility for their own stretch of road and will organise meetings with their neighbouring businesses.
If you would like to get involved email Catherine Mackenzie.
The next Wilmslow Business Group meeting will take place from 8am to 9am on Tuesday 16th April at the Stolen Lamb restaurant on Grove Street.
Comments
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I presume our currency would be called 'New Money', a currency already much in local circulation.
There will always be ideas and initiatives, some will work, some wont, but one thing is true, the constant ability to be able to voice a suggestion, be reported on, and the fair ability to comment on it, which the readers of this great site do. The more ideas the better. The edgier and diverse the better, but please please remember, the committee and events people in the WBG all work full time, this isnt paid stuff, we will only start to commit time and efforts to something we think will work for the town.
We do have another great idea for Wilmslow for either this or next year, its not been done before in a town so is truly both original and exciting, what we should be doing. I'll be doing a feasibility study with retail (hah, when i get the time) and maybe, just maybe we'll have another exciting event on the calendar.
We wont be asking anyone to trade in their Premium Bonds for a "new currency" thats for sure.