News: Portas pot perfect for reviving Rotherham's retail offer
Rotherham Council expects that all of the £100,000 that the town secured when it became a "Portas Pilot" will be invested in the town centre in 2013/14 for the benefit of residents, shoppers and business people.
The national press has carried recent stories with accusations that the government cash had been "wasted" in UK towns but Rotherham has seen sound investments in developing and growing the town's differentiated shopping offer, both supporting entrepreneurs to set up shop and assisting existing retailers to develop their own business.
Rotherham town centre was one of 27 areas to be named as a Portas Pilot last year with the government money matched by a private sector contribution from British Land, the owners of nearby Parkgate Shopping. £43,684 of the £100,000 allocated has been spent or committed to existing projects.
The impressive expansion of the Whistlestop Sweetshop and Temperance Bar in the Imperial Buildings is an example of how the funding is being used to help local business owners to fulfil their own ambitions whilst significantly adding to the unique offer.
Also part of the Portas Pilot investment, Vintage Dolls is set to become Rotherham's first Pop up Shop. The scheme enables new start businesses to test the market and their business ideas without the risk normally associated with start-ups. Based in the Imperial Buildings, Vintage Dolls specialises in vintage clothing and furniture.
Joining the sweetshop and Vintage Dolls in the burgeoning Imperial Buildings is Bittersweet Boutique, the vintage furniture and individual accessories store established by enterprising young retailer, Laura Bullock. Her store has expanded from the original on Moorgate Street which was set up with help from the council's Town Centre Vitality Scheme and Rotherham Youth Enterprise.
Investment has also been made to improve the shopper experience incorporating a Mystery Shopping Exercise involving over 170 businesses. Subsequent training in areas of visual merchandising, gift wrapping, World Host customer service, media and marketing have also been made available, which a total of 59 businesses are benefitting, helping to ensure that Rotherham businesses go the extra mile.
Councillor Gerald Smith, cabinet member for town centres and regeneration at Rotherham council, said: "We've allocated the funding based on feedback from businesses, residents and shoppers and based on experience of what works for the town centre and we're delighted that so many businesses are benefited from the funding.
"There has been great progress in the town centre, which the healthy footfall increases have proved. There is a fantastic range of high-quality shops and a welcoming atmosphere.
"There's an awful lot to be proud about regarding Rotherham at the moment, and this should be a massive boost to our already burgeoning town centre."
Charlotte Scothern, owner of Patchwork Pig on High Street, added: "The customer service training was great, having never had any customer service training it was really interesting, useful and thought provoking.
"It made you question the way you work so you can improve your service for your customers, it has definitely made me more aware of any contact I have with customers and what I can do to always go the extra mile.
"The training left me with a long lasting impact but with ideas that I could implement straight away."
Whistlestop Sweetshop and Temperance Bar website
Vintage Dolls facebok page
Bittersweet Boutique website
Patchwork Pig website
Rotherham town centre website
Images: RMBC
The national press has carried recent stories with accusations that the government cash had been "wasted" in UK towns but Rotherham has seen sound investments in developing and growing the town's differentiated shopping offer, both supporting entrepreneurs to set up shop and assisting existing retailers to develop their own business.
Rotherham town centre was one of 27 areas to be named as a Portas Pilot last year with the government money matched by a private sector contribution from British Land, the owners of nearby Parkgate Shopping. £43,684 of the £100,000 allocated has been spent or committed to existing projects.
The impressive expansion of the Whistlestop Sweetshop and Temperance Bar in the Imperial Buildings is an example of how the funding is being used to help local business owners to fulfil their own ambitions whilst significantly adding to the unique offer.
Also part of the Portas Pilot investment, Vintage Dolls is set to become Rotherham's first Pop up Shop. The scheme enables new start businesses to test the market and their business ideas without the risk normally associated with start-ups. Based in the Imperial Buildings, Vintage Dolls specialises in vintage clothing and furniture.
Joining the sweetshop and Vintage Dolls in the burgeoning Imperial Buildings is Bittersweet Boutique, the vintage furniture and individual accessories store established by enterprising young retailer, Laura Bullock. Her store has expanded from the original on Moorgate Street which was set up with help from the council's Town Centre Vitality Scheme and Rotherham Youth Enterprise.
Investment has also been made to improve the shopper experience incorporating a Mystery Shopping Exercise involving over 170 businesses. Subsequent training in areas of visual merchandising, gift wrapping, World Host customer service, media and marketing have also been made available, which a total of 59 businesses are benefitting, helping to ensure that Rotherham businesses go the extra mile.
Councillor Gerald Smith, cabinet member for town centres and regeneration at Rotherham council, said: "We've allocated the funding based on feedback from businesses, residents and shoppers and based on experience of what works for the town centre and we're delighted that so many businesses are benefited from the funding.
"There has been great progress in the town centre, which the healthy footfall increases have proved. There is a fantastic range of high-quality shops and a welcoming atmosphere.
"There's an awful lot to be proud about regarding Rotherham at the moment, and this should be a massive boost to our already burgeoning town centre."
Charlotte Scothern, owner of Patchwork Pig on High Street, added: "The customer service training was great, having never had any customer service training it was really interesting, useful and thought provoking.
"It made you question the way you work so you can improve your service for your customers, it has definitely made me more aware of any contact I have with customers and what I can do to always go the extra mile.
"The training left me with a long lasting impact but with ideas that I could implement straight away."
Whistlestop Sweetshop and Temperance Bar website
Vintage Dolls facebok page
Bittersweet Boutique website
Patchwork Pig website
Rotherham town centre website
Images: RMBC
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