"Utter shite above the door"
Posted on 29 Jun 2010
This week's episode of ‘Mary Queen of Shops' (BBC 2 Mondays 9 p.m.) saw the irrepressible Mary Portas sum up Kingston niche homewares retailer ‘Under the Moon' with the immortal line "it might as well have 'utter shite' above there (the shop front)".Cutting maybe, but a reasonable summary of the failing independent business as any who saw the programme will agree. You can view it here along with the 3 previous episodes in the most recent series.
Mary Portas Retail Consultant
Mary Portas started her career with a Saturday job in John Lewis, progressing to join the board of Harvey Nichols before the age of 30. Recognised as one of the UK's foremost authorities on retail and brand communication, Mary advises globally on retail strategy and launches her "guide to successful retailing" with the National Skills Academy this week.
In recent years Mary Portas has increasingly focused upon the specialist, independent sector of UK retail. Echoing the sentiments of ActSmart's community strategy Mary states "If they work with each other to create high streets we want to visit, they'll be stronger".
ActSmart and Skillsmart
ActSmart has been working with skillsmart retail, an organisation that Government views as an exemplar in the field of skills development, to deliver a retail skills programme for ActSmart subscribers with the Mary Portas retail workshops leading the programme for business management.
The guide to successful retailing, consisting of 7 management modules, officially launches at the new Westfield at Stratford City on 1st July. ActSmart is establishing regional trials of the courses and other skillsmart retail offerings to fulfil all staff training requirements during the coming months.
"Our aim is to create a comprehensive retail skills programme with a national delivery structure, which we can link to our retail channel specific programmes and accredit accordingly. This will allow us to increase retail skills levels, rewarding business and individuals for investing in their future" stated Jonathan Harrison of ActSmart.
More details to follow shortly or for further information please contact info@actsmart.biz.
