I am a strategist focusing on brand building and value creation in a digitally disrupted world and with Millennials and Gen Z. The world has never changed so fast and it is changing at accelerating speed. Economic uncertainties, drastic shifts in consumer preferences, fast-changing expectations by Millennials and Generation Z, disruption by new technologies, lower hurdles than ever before for new players to enter into the market, hyper-competition, digitization - various factors that force companies to think different. I’m a specialist in developing brand strategies to lead this change.

Nathalie Wimmer

&lt;p&gt;I'm Emily, Retail Supply Chain Consultant and owner of The Retailer Clinic. I help small retailers to optimise their supply chains, focusing on the areas of procurement, production, inventory management, forecasting, cash flow and strategy.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;I have over 10 years experience in retail having worked in head offices in buying, sales and production roles and on the shop floor in sales advisor and account management positions.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Working for small retailers opened my eyes to the challenges small retailers face when it comes to supply chain. Forecasting and inventory management software is eye-wateringly expensive, production planning is more complex due to smaller order quantities, and deciding on a procurement strategy can be difficult without buying power.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;I went in search of solutions to these problems and spent the next few years studying supply chain analytics, fundamentals, dynamics and design. Armed with 10 years of experience navigating retail supply chains and a stack of models and knowledge, I am ready to help you optimise your supply chain!&lt;/p&gt;

Retail Supply Chain Consultant

Emily Lyons

I am an experienced health and safety professional with over twenty years experience in the private, public and charity sectors. I run Imago Health and Safety Consultants, a bespoke health and safety and HR consultancy providing health and safety advice and guidance to start-ups and SMEs. In addition to advice  and guidance we provide a range of other services to clients, including health and safety audits and inspections, risk and coshh assessments,  supplier audits, health and safety accreditations, and health and safety training.

I  previously worked as a health and safety inspector for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for six years, providing health and safety advice and guidance to SMEs and large clients in a range of different industry sectors including food and drink, manufacturing, chemicals, construction, and public services. I also worked in a previous role as a senior health and safety consultant in the private sector I  worked with clients in tech, retail,  finance, hair and beauty and food and drink sectors providing practical and cost-effective steps to remove your health and safety hazards, reduce  risks and keep businesses safe and compliant with UK health and safety legislation.

I am also a chartered member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).

Director

Ebenezer Anjorin CMIOSH

Enterprise Nation has helped thousands of people start and grow their businesses. Led by founder, Emma Jones CBE, Enterprise Nation connects you to the resources and expertise to help you succeed.

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Two’s better than one

Are you ready to get out there, engage with your customers and test your ideas in person? One great way to do that is through a physical pop-up shop, so here are some tips on where to begin.

 campaign in partnership with Adobe Express, Enterprise Nation is giving small businesses the opportunity to have their brand featured in a 

physical pop-up shop on Oxford Street in central London in May 2023

. Read on to find out more about how to prepare for a pop-up shop experience.

It would be good to have a clear idea of why you're starting the pop-up in the first place. Based on your goals, you can develop the experience and format that works best for you.

Is it a short promotional stunt where you want to achieve the 'wow' effect? Or is it about testing a location over the long term?

The design behind your pop-up shop should be an extension of your 

. The message you want to send to your clients has to be loud and memorable, especially if you're using the space only for a short period.

As a business owner, you always need to have a picture of your ideal client in mind. Who is that 

 to whom you're selling your product? What do they like and what will grab their attention? What do they enjoy doing and what is their ideal shopping experience?

Get creative and deliver an unforgettable experience!

If you understand your customer well enough and make an event of your pop-up, people won't want to miss it. What can make your brand unique are memorable experiences, Instagrammable places and dynamic content.

Create magic around your business, and think of demonstrations, performances and one-time offers that will appeal to people's curiosity. When they think of the product, make them remember their experience with you!

Fun things that you could do to attract customers include:

Spring season is all about bright colours, the smell of flowers, the taste of new fruits, and new bright beginnings. Use this emotional connection and call on those feelings, so people are more likely to remember your products.

Customer behaviour – a guided tour through your shop

As we go to the physical materialisation of your brand as a pop-up, we need to create a narrative for customers coming into your shop.

A window display is how you make a good first impression – a great way to 

When they enter the shop, customers need a transition space to adjust to the new environment, so within the first couple of metres (depending on the shop size) there is usually a 'decompression zone'. If you put content in this zone, people can easily overlook it.

Some retail statistics suggest that 90% of people turn right when they walk into a store. Other research says there is a 50–50 chance people will turn left or right. So, the best thing you can do for your business is to track the behaviour of your customers and create your own statistics in this regard.

Observing this behaviour is really important to properly designing a clear path and leading customers down it. We explain some of the most common shop layouts in the next section.

If you have a larger space, create speed bumps to make sure that people entering the store won't just hurry through without noticing your products.

These are some basic store layouts that retailers use most frequently.

This layout consists of aisles alongside the walls. It's good for displaying a lot of products in a small space, but it can feel cramped for customers.

In this case, the circular path is created and ends where the customer began. If you have a bigger space, this type may waste customers' time if they came for a specific product.

This layout allows customers to wander without a specific path. However, you need to know your customers' behaviour because there are certain rules you need to follow so as to not make it confusing for people.

If we're talking about visual merchandising, there is a saying 'Eye level is a buy level'. That said, bear in mind that if you're offering products that children would like, you should display them at their eye level, which is 90cm to 120cm off the ground.

There are many interesting ways to captivate your customers' attention, and what works best will depend on the product. If you're displaying a variety of products, you should classify them into different categories and put in the right place according to your customers' needs. Think about:

Draw attention to the products using signage, lighting or colour. Consider putting together items you can use with each other, arranging them by theme (for example, seasonal, holiday gifts and so on).

With these points, we've just touched the tip of an iceberg, but the most important thing is to enjoy the process. It's OK to exaggerate and be playful – this is just a temporary design and you're allowed to test and make mistakes. These solutions don't need to be pricey, so just release your creativity and have fun!

Small Business Goes Big: Win a place on Oxford Street with our store takeover exclusively for small businesses

How to design a pop-up shop

Are you ready to get out there, engage with your customers and test your ideas in person?

With retail and hospitality among the hardest hit sectors during the coronavirus pandemic, the government has set out its plans for supporting high streets, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

 detailing a strategy for boosting Britain's shopping districts, prime minister Boris Johnson said: "Successive governments have, with the best of intentions, sought to support our high streets by pretending that the 21st century hasn’t happened, propping them up and sitting Canute-like as the waves of changing habits and online retail lap around their ankles. 

"We’re doing things differently. Rather than attempting to force the toothpaste back into the tube, we’re accepting that the world has changed and giving our high streets the freedom they need to change with it."

Among the measures in the strategy document are:

Relaxed al-fresco dining to be made permanent

Rules allowing restaurants and cafes to serve customers outside were relaxed due to the coronavirus restrictions. The government said this streamlined licensing system will be extended for 12 months in England, with an intention to make it permanent.

Takeaway pints can also continue for another 12 months with the extension of rules for the off-site sales of alcohol. 

Local councils to turn unused high street spaces into places from where new food and drink businesses can trade. The government said it will work with councils and the hospitality sector to develop "hospitality-led regeneration hubs, with demonstrators delivered in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales".

To encourage more cycling and walking with segregated cycle lanes on main roads and expanded space for pedestrians, the government will select 12 non-London local authority areas to receive funding to take part in "mini-Holland schemes".

Tackling litter, graffiti and gum staining

The document says: "We recognise that a clean environment is good for our wellbeing, and good for the economy – and that delivering this on high streets is a vital part of delivering this ambition as well as contributing to our vision of building green, clean, high streets which attract visitors and make them feel safe and welcome, increasing footfall and appetite for new business."

The government said it will review planning practice guidance in relation to litter, particularly when it comes to rubbish outside fast food outlets, and chewing gum producers will invest up to £10m in a scheme that provides financial support to councils for removing gum litter and staining.

New guidance on tackling graffiti for local authorities and business owners will be published and £2m in funding will be allowed for "councils to fight back against the menace of graffiti".

Communities will be encouraged to help clean their local area on a new National High Streets Day.

Alongside the high street strategy, the government published 

 that helps local communities take over businesses such as pubs, theatres and post offices to stop them before sold for development. Communities can borrow up to £250,000 in matched funding through the £150m scheme. 

The application form for the Community Ownership Fund is 

As the High Streets Strategy was released, the government confirmed £335m for 15 new 

. Projects include repurposing empty shops, creating new public spaces, transforming a riverfront area into a community hub with entertainment and leisure venues, and creating a new digital enterprise and learning centre. Town Deals have been offered to all 101 places that were invited to develop proposals.

Councils in England will give the power to take over derelict buildings through compulsory purchase orders so they can be converted into new homes if property owners stall on regeneration plans. Councils will also be encouraged to use existing powers to convert empty offices into housing, and empty shops can be turned into entertainment venues or other new businesses without the need for planning permission.

 Retail veteran Bill Grimsey also released his own 

. He warned thousands of small shops could close due to the debt they've taken on to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. His report called for that debt to be written off by the government. 

His other recommendations include major reform of business rates with a retail sales tax in its place and more focus on supporting independents and encouraging experiences so that more shoppers return to their local high streets.  

He also criticised the government's Levelling Up approach as "creating left behind towns through a winners and losers approach".

See all of Bill Grimsey's recommendations 

What do you think of the government's strategy and Bill Grimsey's report? If you're running a high street business, will either approach help you? We'd love to hear your thoughts. 

I&apos;m a <a href=&apos;https://danmartinuk.com/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>freelance content creator and event host</a> who helps small businesses and the organisations that support them. I&apos;m also Enterprise Nation&apos;s Local Leader for Bristol.
I have 20 years of experience as a small business journalist having interviewed hundreds of entrepreneurs from famous names like Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden to the founders behind brand new start-ups.
I&apos;ve worked for a range of leading small business publications and support groups, most recently as head of content at Enterprise Nation where I was responsible for the prolific output of content on the company&apos;s blog and social media. I now freelance for Enterprise Nation as the website&apos;s <a href=&apos;https://www.enterprisenation.com/business-news&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>news reporter</a> and as the host of the <a href=&apos;https://www.enterprisenation.com/podcast&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Small Business sessions podcast</a>.
I&apos;m based in Bristol where I run and host regular events with the local small business community in my role as Enterprise Nation&apos;s Local Leader for Bristol. I also have strong connections with other major business organisations in the south west region.
In total, I&apos;ve hosted over 100 events including conferences with an audience of hundreds for international brands like Xero and Facebook and live web chats from inside 10 Downing Street.
With my partner, I co-run <a href=&apos;https://www.lifestyledistrict.co.uk/&apos; target=&apos;_self&apos;>Lifestyle District</a>, a lifestyle blog focused on culture, art, theatre and photography.

Freelance content creator & event host

Government sets out vision for recovery and regeneration of high streets

How the government intends to support Britain's high streets. 

This guide has the latest information about government plans for easing lockdown measures across the UK. We are keeping it updated.

a four-step plan for easing lockdown in England

The changes are dependent on the coronavirus vaccine programme staying on track, evidence showing the vaccines are reducing deaths and need for hospital treatment, there is no surge in hospital admissions and new virus variants do not increase the risk of removing restrictions.

UPDATE 12/07/21: The prime minister announced that step four of the roadmap in England will go ahead on 19 July. 

 that all of Scotland will move to level 0 of restrictions on 19 July. 

The restrictions that remain from 19 July include:

 Wales will move to alert level one on 17 July. Changes include:

If the public health situation allows, Wales will move to alert level zero on 7 August. Changes include: 

More details about the Welsh government's plans for alert level zero are 

An indicative date of 26 July (subject to review on 22 July) has been set for the following:

The full list of regulations and guidance is 

The latest coronavirus support information

We are keeping you updated on the latest information on how to access the government's coronavirus business support 

Enterprise Nation's coronavirus business advice hub

A guide to the lockdown easing plans in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The latest details on plans to ease lockdown measures across the UK.



Events

Watch back: Get your business ready to make sales

Member stories

Meet the brands that sold in store

Learn more

How to do a retail pop-up

Resources to get you trading

Connect with retail advisers

Events coming up

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