‘Adapt or die’: that’s the stark choice facing small retailers throughout Northern Ireland, warns University of Ulster retailing expert Dr Karise Hutchinson.

Faced with increasingly stiffer competition from huge multinationals, home grown independent retailers need to be more proactive if they are to stay in business. The alternative she says is to simply close up shop for good.  

With major out of town shopping centres, retail outlet parks and shopping malls all adding to the woes of small retailers, the conference is very timely and will be of interest to small independent retailers concerned with growing their business in an increasingly competitive business environment, she said.

“Small businesses are being squeezed by multiples and many have already been seriously affected. The stark reality is that unless they do something to adapt to the changing retail landscape, their future is very bleak.”

Dr Hutchinson is one of the organisers of ‘Growing Business for Northern Ireland Retailers’, a half-day conference hosted by the University of Ulster at the university’s Coleraine campus on Wednesday April 30.

The event will give retailers an opportunity to listen to some inspirational ‘home grown’ success stories, participate in business clinics and meet other retailers and entrepreneurs with expertise and interest in the retail sector, representatives from business support agencies and retail consultancy firms.

Dr Hutchinson says the common denominator for both big multinationals and small independent retailers is the customer.

“The key to success is to give your customers what they want. Small specialists shops offering customers a unique shopping experience can do very well against the major players who can’t offer the same level of personal service.

“Small retailers need to look at ways to differentiate what they are offering the customer. There will always be some customers prepared to pay a premium price to get what they want. Small retailers should be trying to develop their expertise to focus on these niche markets.”

Commenting on the development of out of town retail parks, Dr Hutchinson says they raise serious questions about planning legislation.

“Consumers are demanding greater choice and in response we’ve followed the US retail model and created out of town retail shopping centres. There is a price to be paid though as the some city centres in England are like ghost towns and there is a real danger that the same thing could happen here unless adequate planning controls are put in place.

“The opening of Victoria Square in Belfast will help inject life into that part of the city centre but increasingly out of town developments are draining business away from town centres and are having a serious social impact. Planners have an important role to play as we need to get the right balance and not allow too many out of town developments."

ENDS

Speakers at Growing Business For Northern Ireland Retailers will include Hugh Black, Victoria Square; Pete Boyle, Argento; and Stephen McCammon, Tempest/Menarys. The topics for the business clinics include marketing challenges and solutions for retailers; business networking for retailers; merchandising and store layout solutions for retailers; introduction to retailing on Ebay; and recruitment and training – the future challenge.

The conference is free but to register please e-mail:

knowledgeclub@ulster.ac.uk or telephone 028 9036 8019  

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young