Mary Portas and NSA prepare thecentre:mk stores for tough 2011

With Mary Portas currently changing the face of retail and customer service as we know it through her channel 4 series of ‘Secret Shopper’, retailers at thecentre:mk are offered her exclusive master classes to polish their skills for a challenging 2011.

The skillscentre:mk are delighted to offer such an inspiring series of innovative master classes to thecentre:mk’s retailers, it is key to the centres success that store owners and managers are consistently updated on the latest selling, branding and visual merchandising techniques. With thecentre:mk being a founder member of the NSA for retail, the shoppers experience is paramount for  enhancing skills and ultimately their profitability of our retailers. 

The seven workshops cover a variety of subject areas; Selling and services skills, Creating desire, My shop and my future, Retail finance and business planning, Buying for your customer, Marketing for more customers and You and Your Team.
Tina Nikoosimaitak is the co-owner and manager of Little Timbers retailer and retail mall unit at thecentre:mk. “I attended the first in the series of Mary Portas innovative workshops, I found it a really great opportunity to meet smaller store owners like myself and speak with them about their experiences, it really helped to inspire me in my day to day business and the way I take my ideas from thoughts to reality. I am attending the next one on 15 February about Creating Desire and am really looking forwards to adding to my 16 years of experience in the business, with some innovative new ideas from Mary’s team.”

thecentre:mk encourage retailers to be involved in this groundbreaking series of master classes. However, if retail owners and managers struggle to fund the innovative master classes, the Skills South East in association with Train to Gain offer £500 for small to medium size businesses, to develop key business leadership skills. This grant can be used at the skillscentre:mk, for the NSA for retail Mary Portas programme. This will allow for small to medium retailers to attend up to two courses free of charge.

The programme of workshops will run throughout February, March, April and May, key dates and information can all be found at thecentremk.com/Jobs/Skill-Centre-and-Training or alternatively visit www.nsaforretail.com. The workshops are open to anyone who is an aspiring retailer, or for store owners and managers who want to update their skills set.

For further information or to book a master class contact Jackie Small at the skillscentre:mk on 01908 608067 or jackie.small@skillscentremk.co.uk. For further information on how to obtain a grant from Skills South East in Association with Train to Gain; visit skillssoutheast.co.uk or call 0845 026 4298