Canterbury Bid – Local Digital Marketing Services – Content Creator for Visit Canterbury – March 2023 to date
Supporting the Canterbury Bid in the delivery of the Visit Canterbury website, providing regular content for Herne Bay, including events, what’s on and blog content.
Delivery of the Buy in the Bay local Herne Bay social media platform
Social Enterprise Kent & Kent County Council – Buy Social Kent Directory – February 2023 to date
Supporting this partnership as a high street expert in the delivery of 1-1 consulting support for directory members.
Directory members instantly qualify for this exciting opportunity to help businesses to improve their online presence, including website, search engine optimisation, key words and social media, formulating a plan to ultimately increase sales and revenue.
Social Enterprise Kent & Thanet District Council Business Support Programme – December 2022 to date
Supporting this partnership as a retail consultant in the delivery of a business support programme – Thanet Business Engagement and Support Services.
The programme is designed to support SME’s in the Thanet area and tailored to help businesses navigate the challenges and opportunities of operating a business.
Canterbury City Council – Local Digital Marketing Services – March 2022 to February 2023
Following on from the success of the project to rebrand Buy in the Buy, Retail Inspired was commissioned to continue to deliver a B2C local marketing digital campaign in Herne Bay, Kent – ‘Buy in the Bay’ to showcase businesses in the Bay and promote local news and events.
The campaign encourages local residents to support town centre and local businesses, boosting the local economy.
Businesses receive social media guides to support their online journey and stay up to date.
Maidstone Borough Council – Feasibility Report – February 2022
Commissioned to produce a further report to help the Corporate Property team develop initiatives to compliment the food hall offer in council owned Lockmeadow Complex.
Produced in Kent – January 2022 to October 2022 ‘Retail & Markets Consultant’
Supporting Produced in Kent as a Retail and Markets Consultant -,part of the UKCRF Kent and Medway Partnership for Enterprise, Food and Health project – delivered research and recommendations on local food markets and retail outlets in Swale, Gravesham and Medway.
Maidstone Borough Council – January 2021 Food Hall Feasibility Study
Commissioned to produce a Food Hall Feasibility Study to help the council to develop a strategic approach towards identifying opportunities, including innovative initiatives to compliment the leisure offer at the Lockmeadow Complex within the town centre.
The report and recommendations were taken forward in spring 2021 and an exciting food hall launched in autumn 2021 as Love Food @ Lockmeadow.
Social Enterprise Kent – Ageless Thanet Programme – April 2020 – March 2021
Business liaison and development through a programme to support Ageless Thanet businesses to pivot their businesses throughout the pandemic.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council – January 2020 – April 2022 – ‘Enhancing Folkestone Town Centre’.
Delivering Place Making projects to enliven Folkestone Town Centre, supporting the evolution of the high street.
Launched a Vegan Market to support the regeneration within the town centre, supporting businesses and increasing footfall
Trial of seasonal markets and events across the town centre to support businesses
Canterbury City Council 2019 to March 2022 – Enhanced Business Support Programme to SME’s in Town Centre(s)
Creation of a combined online and bricks & mortar business support programme to future proof businesses through the evolution of the high street and town centres.
Harnessing technology: online content & social media development through a tailored programme to SME’s.
Visual Merchandising: up-skill businesses to deliver a visually pleasing customer experience.
Enhanced Customer Experience: A tailored programme to create a seamless, curated experience and strategies to help navigate the current retail climate.
Storytelling and curation of projects being delivered by the local authority through the development and delivery of a local marketing campaign.
Future High Streets Expression of Interest
Commissioned to support several Local Authorities with their submission of an expression of interest for funding from the Future High Streets Fund.
Clearly defining and describing the key challenges facing the individual high streets.
Providing evidence to support the submissions and appendices.
Clearly setting out why the town centres would benefit more from moving forward to co-development.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council
We were commissioned to provide support and advice to Folkestone & Hythe District Council to enable development opportunities and innovative ways of enhancing Folkestone Town centre, including local initiatives to improve the townscape and retail and leisure offer.
Canterbury City Council
We were Commissioned by Canterbury City Council to assist them in their work to adopt a more strategic approach towards identifying a programme of initiatives to support businesses.
Undertaking an evaluation of town centre businesses and support required in line with the evolution of town centres and changing customer habits, ultimately future proofing their businesses.
Ashford Borough Council
We worked with Ashford Borough Council to create and deliver projects increasing footfall and spend within local retail businesses to enable radical changes to support the evolution of the town centre. Leading on the promotion of opportunities for new businesses to open or start-up, drawing on specialist retail experience to support the economic development and vitality of Ashford town centre.
Made in Ashford
We created the Made in Ashford brand, a shop share as part of Ashford Borough Council’s purchase of Park Mall Shopping Centre showcasing over 50 designer makers to test the high street for a longer period. Working closely with the designers to develop the brand strategy and promote the shop through social media. Continuing business support and devising marketing campaigns. A unique approach ensured that Made in Ashford complimented the high street offer beautifully with bespoke handmade products by talented makers and putting Ashford town centre on the map when it comes to discovering unique businesses.
Love Ashford
We worked with a local design agency and collectively launched LoveAshford.com the UK’S 1st truly functioning digital high street showcasing Ashford Town centre businesses, local offers, events and daily inspiration through timely blogs. This ground breaking website was singled out in the Mary Portas 2014 review as a successful case study – why our high streets still matter.
Park Mall Shopping Centre
We formulated and delivered the retail strategy for Park Mall Shopping Centre to invigorate since the council purchased the once ailing centre in June 2015. Identified new tenants and worked with existing businesses to create a centre with its own unique selling point with increased footfall and a redefined customer experience, thus supporting the businesses and the wider town centre. Working with Cradick Retail to transform a desperately failing centre with falling tenancy to a 94% occupancy as of December 2017, with further leases in negotiation.
Pop Up Ashford
We collaborated with PopUp Britain, the retail arm of StartUp Britain, a national campaign that supported Britain’s entrepreneurs to deliver the first PopUp Britain shop in Kent, allowing 25 start-up businesses to test the high street with tailored business support.
Hosting and delivering various business networking events, including a workshop with TV’s Alex Polizzi in conjunction with PopUp Britain.
Ashford Farmers’ Market
In partnership with The Kent Farmers’ Market association, we delivered Ashford’s Farmers’ Market for Ashford Borough Council with the aim to increase footfall in the town centre in July 2014. The market showcases local traders with their local produce and street food on the first Sunday of the month.
retailinspired.org 