Retford Business Forum has detailed a major drive to the town’s retailers, with the aim of increasing the number of people coming into town to shop over the next 12 months.
The Forum’s members were given the ambitious proposals and asked to share their views before its monthly meeting takes place on November 1st 2011. The document outlines a variety of suggestions in a bid to raise awareness of Retford as shopping destination, including using social media to boost footfall and improving the retail environment so that it’s more attractive to shoppers.
Retailers are already putting forward their suggestions and concerns.
“Having promotions tied to events like Charter Day is good for that particular day, but we need initiatives that will help in the daily routine of getting people to find access to a parking space”, commented Retford Business Forum member and co-owner of independent book store, Bookworm. "Car parking in Retford is not expensive but we do not have enough long-stay spaces – that is what we're fighting for."
Town centre operations manager at Bassetlaw District Council, Richard Blagg, welcomed the suggestions.
"We are really pleased to see businesses get together and come up with suggestions to help the town centre instead of the council taking the lead.
"They have come up with some great ideas, including the car parking issue, which we can help with to try to keep shoppers in the town centre for longer. We also like the idea of promoting Retford further afield, which not only would encourage more shoppers from elsewhere, but also improve tourism."
The twelve month action plan includes suggestions such as:
- Working in partnership with the tourist board
- Effective communication with Retford’s councillors and police
- Setting up a financial core bank account and sorting funding
- Improving car parking in Retford
- Creating a corporate brochure that contains the aims and objectives of the drive
- Various retail promotions
- Communicating a varied calendar of events via advertising and social media, such as Facebook and twitter