Award-winning retailer Raj Aggarwal is urging fellow store owners to throw themselves behind National Independents’ Week (NIW), June 1-6.
The recipient of last year’s Federation of Wholesale Distributors’ (FWD) Gold Award sees the week as a chance to make a statement about the role of small stores.
“It’s a great chance to demonstrate we’re not just about money,” said Raj, who owns two Londis stores in Leicestershire. “You will see a sales uplift, but for me that’s not what it’s about – it’s about being recognised as a caring business. There are so many independent retailers who support their local communities and this personal interface just cannot be replicated by the giant retailers.
“This is a low-cost, high-profile chance to say thank you to your customers that will leave a lasting impression.”
Last year Raj organised a day of activities with live music, a bouncy castle and face-painting. He provided food and drink and persuaded suppliers to contribute products to give away. The event was promoted with posters and leaflets.
“We had a fantastic response – it was such a fun day,” said Raj. “The customers understood that it was our reward to them and for a while afterwards we were the talk of the town. That’s exactly what I had hoped.”
The FWD’s My Shop is Your Shop campaign, which organises NIW, has made some suggestions for events at www.myshopisyourshop.co.uk. For more on NIW, see p31.
The recipient of last year’s Federation of Wholesale Distributors’ (FWD) Gold Award sees the week as a chance to make a statement about the role of small stores.
“It’s a great chance to demonstrate we’re not just about money,” said Raj, who owns two Londis stores in Leicestershire. “You will see a sales uplift, but for me that’s not what it’s about – it’s about being recognised as a caring business. There are so many independent retailers who support their local communities and this personal interface just cannot be replicated by the giant retailers.
“This is a low-cost, high-profile chance to say thank you to your customers that will leave a lasting impression.”
Last year Raj organised a day of activities with live music, a bouncy castle and face-painting. He provided food and drink and persuaded suppliers to contribute products to give away. The event was promoted with posters and leaflets.
“We had a fantastic response – it was such a fun day,” said Raj. “The customers understood that it was our reward to them and for a while afterwards we were the talk of the town. That’s exactly what I had hoped.”
The FWD’s My Shop is Your Shop campaign, which organises NIW, has made some suggestions for events at www.myshopisyourshop.co.uk. For more on NIW, see p31.
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