Modern Retail Suppliers Guide 2017

Suppliers Guide 2017

Suppliers Guide 2017 Shopfitting & Display Technology Retail Training Marketing

Suppliers Guide 2017 CONTENTS Shopfitting & Display

Retail Training

3-6 7-14 15-16 17-20

Classified Directory of Suppliers

21-27

Technology Marketing

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CREDITS Editor: Rob Gamage Marketing & Production: Charlotte Lynch Advertising Sales: Emma Mjekiqi

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Shopfitting & Display Shop Layout Essentials Deciding on the layout of your shop is a major task and it’s one which could have a big impact on not only your sales but also your branding. Consumers are a discerning bunch and the few, precious moments in which a customer spends looking around your shop as they step over the threshold are vital to what they choose to do next.

Doorways and Free Flow Talking about free flow might sound a little airy fairy but the fact is that humans are programmed to take the “path of least resistance” in all their journeys.

So, what is the path of least resistance? It’s the route to a desired destination which offers the least obstacles. You can see examples of paths of least resistance all over most neighbourhoods; they’re the little unofficial pathways worn out of lawns, the worn-down tracks up and down hills where feet have trodden out the easiest path for years.

We search out these pathways even when we’re in buildings so it’s vital that when you’re organising your shop layout, you consider this as you look from the entering customer’s viewpoint in the doorway.

Even if you’re short of space, it’s not advisable to put any display racks directly in the path of the entering customer. The first few feet of any shop is important and is known as the ‘decompression zone’; it’s basically the spot in which customers take a breather and work out their next move.

Taking the Right Path By this we literally mean ‘the right path’. 90% of customers entering a shop will turn right. Why, we don’t know…it’s just something that happens and it’s something you can use to your advantage when you’re choosing where to place your premium stock, the items you think will sell best or the products you really need to draw attention to.

This is important when your space is small because knowing this will assist you in choosing how to display your premium products.

The Power Wall The power wall is a well-known tool used by major retailers to draw customers in. As the title suggests, it’s a wall which is well stocked and visually arresting, designed to pull customers in to the store and towards the stock.

Nike are one brand which take the power of the power wall very seriously; walk into Nike and you can’t miss it. As engaging as an art installation, it’s well-lit and visually pleasing.

Even if your shop is small, you can still benefit from the power wall by remembering the ‘turning right rule’ and placing a broad selection of stock from floor to ceiling on the wall directly facing that right-turning customer. Use shelving or hooks, racks or ropes…if the arrangement is striking and it fills that wall from top to bottom, then the customer will gravitate towards it.

Keeping things Interesting In order to keep customers engaged, a free-flowing approach to layout is a good idea for shops which sell luxury or gift items because when people are shopping for non-essentials they enjoy browsing and want to spend time moving from one area to another.

Small displays of items which are grouped in ‘scenes’ is an effective way of inspiring your customers, carefully select complimenting stock and arrange them in attractive set pieces…show them how it’s done and they’re more likely to relate to the goods on a personal level.

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Technology What Technology can do for Retailers in 2017 Technology is rapidly growing and retailers need to adapt to it to keep the pace. For 2017 and beyond, while many existing practices in retail business will remain in place, some will require modifications. Here we have listed a few aspects of retail where technology can help in reshaping the experience.

Payments and Checkout-free Shopping: The world has already gone checkout-free. Taking the example of Amazon Go, the same can be replicated to other retail businesses as well. An automated (cashless) payment with no need for a checkout is going to be key to almost every business. Android Pay and Apple Pay are already popular; and near field communication (NFC) technology is going to continue to restyle the payment experience in the near future.

However, security is the first and utmost thing to be worked out. Anti-fraud measures through adaptation to artificial intelligence (i.e. machine learning) can bring more customers to eCommerce. Retailers need to invest more in cybersecurity to help in protecting their business from hackers.

Supply Chain and Internet of Things: Internet of things (IoT) is the latest technological advancement that is expected to almost entirely modify supply chain management. The IoT can instantly connect the physical world (i.e. stores, products) with the digital world (i.e. smartphones, kiosks etc.). This can ensure an efficient supply chain that is not only suitable to a consumer’s evolving needs but also convenient to a retailer for real-time updates.

IoT can also help in smart personalisation. Personalisation is a classic feature of retail but generic methods can no longer work in this smart era (i.e. special offers through an automated email with the first name). Google Physical Web concept, an IoT project, can help personalise consumer relations effectively.

Video Marketing and Facebook Live: Video marketing and broadcasting is not a new trend in retail. However, the recently introduced Facebook Live can be used as a hack to boost social media marketing. Retailers can now connect strongly with their customers through Facebook Live. Facebook Live with live commenting can be more popular than conventional broadcasting. In future, augmented reality might also be linked with Facebook Live enabling a feature-rich option for retail marketers.

Retail Delivery Models and Latest Trends: Fast delivery is becoming an essential component for everyday retail trading. Drone deliveries will have an increasing impact in this field. In future, brand partnerships with other retailers might be implemented to help efficiently deliver to loyal customers. It could ensure a fast delivery not only for one’s own brand but also for other, like-minded "partner" brands.

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Technology

Cloud Technology in an Omni-Channel World As customers become far more ‘tech-savvy’ and increasingly expect a seamless shopping experience across a widening range of connected channels, smartphones are expected to be the platform increasingly used to gather information and support the entire shopping experience, from product search to comparisons, recommendations through to payment and receipting. Understanding how your store can become more digitally focused will be essential to survival in a rapidly evolving omni-channel world.

Manufacturers such as Star Micronics have included free-of-charge digital receipting services allowing cloud technology to be fully exploited and your store to become more digitally focused. This digital receipting service works above your existing POS software and is available with Star’s well known TSP100 futurePRNT™ printer and TSP654II HI X printer offering cloud connectivity at every level and Star’s new CloudPRNT™ technology.

Star’s AllReceipts™ app offers customers the opportunity to receive and store a digital receipt as well as see what deals, coupons and promotions the retailer has via the Receipt Flip feature. The customer just has to tap on the receipt and the two sided colour receipt not only becomes the proof of transaction but also a means for the customer to know the latest news from your store.

To enhance direct communication with the customer, retailers have the opportunity to upload full colour promotions to the customer’s smartphone with the option to change these as and when required without cost. In contrast to being interrupted by marketing emails, the customer has full control to search coupons in their catalogue of past purchases.

And, with the Engage NOW tool that is secure and easily customizable, retailers can link their logo on the AllReceipts App on the customer’s smartphone to their choice of web page providing a highly personal customer connection.

Unlike e-receipts where the customer has to provide personal email details, QR code receipts are designed to be anonymous, secure and non-intrusive; an attractive feature given that customers are concerned about their personal information and trust retailers more who are less invasive.

As new connected technologies are changing the way customers shop, retailers need to be prepared to change traditional systems, procedures, processes and ways of communicating in order to stay ahead and thrive in an omnichannel world.

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Cloud Technology in an Omni-Channel World

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Cloud Technology in an Omni-Channel World

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Marketing Branding Essentials for Retailers Online shopping is an established part of the norm now, so retailers have much more work to do to make the physical shopping experience as enticing as possible. So, the design of the storefront is going to be a major factor in the shopping experience.

However, since online shopping is indeed becoming increasingly more popular, it is strongly advised that you work on increasing your online presence too. With both the online presence and storefront design, branding will be key to the success of the company. We hope this article can give you some advice on some branding essentials for your business.

Name This might sound obvious, but this is where it all starts, and it can be incredibly time-consuming to come up with one that you love.

After all, you’re going to be stuck with it once you define who you are. Think of a name you can use to develop other branding and marketing ideas out of.

Logo This will be the cornerstone of your brand. You need to develop a logo that will reflect what you do and who you are, but you also want to stand out from the rest. This is how you will be instantly recognised, and your logo will be incorporated in all your other branding.

Text logos are easily recognisable and may seem simpler, but picking the font will be a difficult choice.

Shop signage We are not just talking about the shop name, but also other promotions that you have in your windows. Most of the time, a customer is not enticed by the name of the store, but what they see in the window. If you’re a clothes retailer, then stylishly dressed mannequins and hot offers may appeal.

If you’re a homeware store, then a mini “showroom” of a stunning home would attract people into the store. Ensure that you always have clear branding throughout the display, though, so passers-by will recognise your business another time.

Online graphics Even if you do not have an e-commerce store, having an online presence will do wonders for your business. One of the first things people do when researching a company is to Google them. Then, social media is often checked. Many companies even have support channels on social media, and it’s a great way to engage with customers and get their feedback.

Branding on these channels is also essential and should be consistent with your storefront. You will need to design stunning social media cover photos and banners to go on your website. If you are running any ad campaigns, then visuals are also they key to success here. It is advisable to get your graphics designed professionally if you want to impress your customers.

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Retail Training Importance of Staff Training in Retail In addition to soaking in the surroundings of a well-designed storefront, one of the first things your customers will notice is your staff. The way they are dressed, how they greet customers, and general professionalism. They are very much a representation of your brand. Therefore, it is essential that your staff are rigorously trained to maintain a high level of customer service.

When you should provide staff training Just after new staff join an organisation and complete their orientation, they usually undergo some essential training. This training is to understand the fundamentals of the business: the vision of the company, the rules, the layout of the store, procedure and working conditions. However, this is not the only time that training should take place.

Existing employees should also undergo regular training, as a refresher to what they should already know. Also, with the advancement of technology these days, companies are always getting in new equipment, so staff would need training in anything new that comes into the store.

Benefits of staff training It goes without saying that there are plenty of benefits of staff training, but here are five that we think are highly important: Improve customer perceptions As mentioned, your staff are a big representation of your brand, so insensitive or unprofessional staff members can really damage your company’s image. With the power of social media now, your company can easily receive negative reviews and publicly be shamed if your staff underperform. Training in basic customer service is absolutely essential.

Improve staff productivity Naturally, well-trained staff will perform better and become much more efficient at their job and increase productivity. In turn, this will increase quality and help drive sales. Not only will this increase revenue, but save money and resources since the staff are working more efficiently.

Increase safety With more training, fewer errors are likely to occur. Therefore, both the staff and the customers will be safer. Being on a sales floor all day can be quite tiring for many, so health and safety training is essential to increase the safety for all.

Improve staff morale Well-trained staff are usually more confident in what they do and also more satisfied that they are doing the job well. This increases the morale of the staff, which can have a knock-on effect for the whole company.

Always maintain your best staff Training can highlight who is performing well, and who is not. If certain staff members consistently need to be re-trained or do not listen in training sessions, then they might not be right for the job. Also, it gives you a chance to see those who are shining and so promotion opportunities can be presented.

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Made You Look!

That’s what we make people do… …and we show you how you can create great displays too!

Window displays are crucial for creating the right first impression – attracting attention from those who may not have noticed you otherwise. Competition for any retailer is high at the moment and with so many people shopping online, window dressing skills are more important than ever. It’s not what you put in your window - but how you make it shine!

Made You Look! offer courses covering the basics rules of display, window dressing, interior displays and merchandise styling. We have different packages which allow us to work with all types of individuals, businesses and teams wherever you are. Our illustrated Talks emphasise the reasons why good shop window displays are crucial for attracting customers, whereas our Presentations are a little longer and teach the basic rules and guidelines of display too. With simple demonstrations, it all comes to life as there is a science behind grouping and merchandise handling which is crucial for creating impact and of course sales. We also offer One-to-One Consultation sessions with businesses at their own level and in their own premises or suitable venue. However the most popular course is our Taster Day which gives delegates the opportunity to learn the theory first and then practice with some simple products so it all makes sense and becomes a reality.

And as most retailers are time-poor, we have Mini-Taster sessions lasting just half a day which are a real hit with everyone, quite often running both a morning and afternoon session in one day with twilight sessions an option for convenience too. Perfect for groups!

So what are our credentials? Both of us (Helen & Janet) have worked in the world of display our entire careers having studied with the British Display Society first. We both started work in the heart of London’s West End and have worked freelance for a variety of customers ever since. However more recently we have been passing on our knowledge to businesses both large and small, offering training, advice, and showing retailers how to make the best of their businesses visually.

If you would like to find out more, please contact us as we’d be happy to answer any questions. We’re here to help!

“Learnt so much in the 3 hours” “So much to take in” Contact details

Made you Look!

Phone: 01904 654 933 Website: www.madeyoulookmadeyoustare.co.uk Twitter: @MadeYouLook1

“Brilliant!”

Classified Guide to Suppliers Shopfitting and Display Arty Wigs Website: http://www.artywigsdisplay.com/home1 Contact Number: 020 88418555 Email: info@artywigsdisplay.com

Arty Wigs Display

Arty Wigs Display is a family owned business with a combined knowledge of over 40 years experience in the display industry. Visual merchandising and Display is a key element for every retailer. Window and Interior schemes are constantly being updated to follow the latest fashion trends.

They can help: revive your mannequins, repair damages, create new styles & trendy new make-ups to your specifications.

Harrison Display Systems Ltd Website: http://www.hds-showcases.co.uk/ Contact Number: 07837 570875 Email: sales@hds-showcases.co.uk

HDS

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HDS Showcases have over 30 years specialist experience in the display cabinet and showcase industry. They have built up, over the years, a deserved reputation for the manufacture of high quality custom made bespoke display cabinets and the supply of an excellent range of display cabinets from stock for fast delivery.

Shopfitting and Display MTFX Website: http://www.mtfx.com/ Contact Number: (0)1452 729903 Email: info@mtfx.com Ingenuity is a wonderful thing. It combines know-how with imagination to meet any challenge – and it’s the driving force behind every special effects job we tackle, no matter how big or small.

Their huge depth of industry knowledge and our culture of experimentation put ingenuity at the heart of our special effects business. We’re always trying new things, thinking on our feet and finding new ways to create spectacular moments.

Pearl Fit Out Website: http://www.pearlfitout.com/ Email: info@pearlfitout.com Their mission: to deliver high quality interior installations that have been manufactured here in the UK, this is something they are very passionate about. "Being able to handover a job knowing it has been made by us is a great feeling". Both Andrew & Leigh have worked extensively on a wide array of different fit-out and specialist joinery projects over the past 20 or more years. They have picked up a wealth of knowledge and experience which they are keen to share. We at PEARL Fit-Out take pride in delivering quality work and want it to show!

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Technology Futura Website: https://www.futura4retail.co.uk/ Contact Number: 01189 841925 Email: sales@futurauk.com They specialise in providing Omni-channel retail solutions, EPOS and inventory control software to leading lifestyle retailers — everything you need to ensure your trading is always on — in store and on the web.

Affordable and easy to use, Futura helps you to avoid lost sales, achieve optimal stock levels across all your channels and engage customers to maximise loyalty. Systems cover stock management and control, loyalty card software, and merchandise planning, all with fast access to live data to drive accurate decision making.

Helping you improve your trading performance, increase efficiency and manage costs, strengthen buying and replenishment, deliver better customer promotions and much more. With over 30 years’ experience and 35,000 users worldwide, you can trust in Futura to provide the advice and support your business needs.

Peak Ryzex

Website: https://www.peak-ryzex.co.uk/ Contact Number: 08452 093 729 Email: customercare@peak-ryzex.com Peak-Ryzex provides end-to-end enterprise mobility, managed services, printing and mobile data capture solutions for performance-driven organisations focused on the optimisation of supply chain and field-based business processes. Peak-Ryzex's in-depth industry-specific experience, stateof-the-art solutions and managed services, and exemplary customer support provide transformational business solutions and results that deliver greater ROI and outstanding value.

Peak-Ryzex serves as a trusted business partner for some of the world's largest companies, while also supporting local and regional customers with an extensive coverage footprint throughout North America and Europe.

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Technology Nominet Website: https://www.nominet.uk/ Contact Number: (0)1865 332244 Email: nominet@nominet.uk Nominet is the official registry for .UK domain names. See information on .uk, .co.uk & .org.uk domains, our WHOIS lookup tool & registering a domain.

They believe the internet is a powerful force for social and economic good, and we make it our business to maximise its positive impact. Â The internet is a powerful force for social and economic good, and we make it our business to maximise its positive impact Our team of 140 people, based in our offices in Oxford and London, connect with customers and the internet community around the world.

SPC Website: http://www.spcint.com/ Email: sales@spcint.com SPC International specializes in the repair, refurbishment and remarketing of electronic and electro-mechanical equipment in the IT, banking and retail sectors. SPC also provide EPOS, printing, thin client, barcoding and computer security software solutions through its reseller activities. Â We have four locations in Europe, one in the USA and four repair centres in India.

SPC International provides spares and repairs supporting maintenance companies and manufacturers around the world. Â New products and refurbished hardware are supplied to retailers, banks and businesses through its reseller and remarketing activities.

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Technology Star EMEA Website: http://star-emea.com/contact/ Contact Number: (0) 1494 471111 Email: sales@star-emea.com Established in 1985, Star Micronics EMEA, based in High Wycombe in the UK, is responsible for the sales and marketing of Star Point of Sale Printers and accessories across Europe, Africa, India and the Middle East. Today, Star EMEA enjoys a prominent market presence as one of the leading manufacturers of Point of Sale equipment across these regions.

Leading the field in traditional POS and mPOS with its solutions in use in major retail and hospitality applications worldwide. heir philosophy has always been to provide retailers with innovative, easy to use solutions at a competitive price.

This is a philosophy which continues today with the launch of the latest range of advanced printing solutions.

Xsellco Website: https://www.xsellco.com/ Contact Number: 020 3322 4848 XSellco leverages multiple data sources to save you time and money, and optimizes your pricing so you sell more, profitably.

Fusion’s model is simple: we put information at your fingertips to allow you give accurate answers to pre and post sales queries. Because the quicker you get back, the happier the customer is, and the more likely they are to buy more.

Price Manager uses Amazon’s own cloud to deliver the quickest and we believe the best repricing tool for Amazon sellers. We will continue to empower sellers with new ways to speed processes and increase profits.

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Retail Training Made You Look

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Website: www.madeyoulookmadeyoustare.co.uk/ Contact Number: (0) 1904 654 933 Email: helen@madeyoulookmadeyoustare.co.uk Window displays are crucial for creating the right first impression – attracting attention from those who may not have noticed you otherwise! Competition for any retailer is high at the moment, and with so many people shopping online, window-dressing skills are more important than ever. It’s not what you put in your window – but how you make it shine!

Our courses cover the basic rules of visual display, window dressing, interior displays and merchandise styling – so find out how we can help you, your team or industry group with our presentations, seminars and workshops.

T21 UK Website: https://t21uk.com/ Contact Number: (0)7913 957875 Email: training@t21uk.com Award-Winning T21 training team create and deliver bespoke induction training for every campaign.

Sales Training: Programs are written and delivered by experienced Trainers who have proven track records of sales success at a high level.

E-Learning: Using dynamic media and technology our powerful, award-winning eLearning Solutions bring training to you, saving time in your busy schedule.

In Store Sales & Promotions: T21+ recruit, train and manage teams of experts for sales support, promotional and hospitality events.

Business Improvement: Execute powerful strategies designed to eliminate wasteful processes and improve the performance of your business.

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Retail Marketing Tiny Box Company Website: http://www.tinyboxcompany.co.uk/ Contact Number: (0)1825 723 832 Email: hello@tinyboxcompany.com The Tiny Box Company only offers recycled packaging and eco-friendly packaging. Offering a huge range of cheap and stylish recycled jewellery boxes, gift boxes, recycled presentation boxes, gift bags, recycled carrier bags and other recycled gift packaging for all your packaging needs. The added benefit is that all our gift boxes, bags and other stuff are made from recycled paper. Not only are our products recycled and eco-friendly but they are also fully recyclable.

We have a huge selection of packaging colours and sizes and quite honestly we have hand picked our collection of recycled gift boxes, recycled jewellery boxes, recycled gift bags and other environmentally friendly packaging to suit all needs.

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