Jo Wynn-Carter – Retail Expert, Place Consultant & Independent Business Specialist
30 years in retail, from shop floor to boardroom. Jo Wynn-Carter founded Retail Inspired after running her own London boutique and leading ground-breaking high street regeneration projects across Kent
High Street Health Has To Be A Shared Responsibility Independents create more than sales, they employ people, use local services, support suppliers and contribute to the local economy. They also support and collaborate with each other. Visit a shop and you might stop for coffee, meet a friend for lunch and you may discover a retailer next door. One fabulous business gives people another reason to visit another.
It is vital now more than ever before that businesses keep the innovative communication going through social media platforms and take advantage of local marketing campaigns to reach a wider audience both locally and from new visitors to their high streets.
What this town centre has achieved following the very first pop up shop, Bedpop resonates with projects I delivered. With storytelling being an integral part of a town or brand's strategy - Bedford does this incredibly well with the support of the local businesses, stakeholders including the local authority and the quality publications including The Bedford Clanger, Bedford Independent.
High streets are under going dramatic changes and will continue to evolve in the next decade. Shopping as we know it is changing too and becoming 'experience' driven. We have witnessed this in the last decade with the rise of pop up shops, and more places where you visit to try out new activities that are not always purchase driven - building brand loyalty.
We're often being asked how do you identify the types of projects to deliver in a town centre? The answer always comes back to the…
