The programme has as its core objective to assist business owners in finding new growth areas of opportunity, to help to re-energise individual businesses, and to help mobilise the business community as a whole.

This Development Programme is targeted at the owner of any business which is Consumer Facing, e.g.

Retailers from all sectors                                                              

• Cafes                                                             
• Restaurants and foodservice outlets
• Hotels
• Beauty salons and hairdressers
• Opticians and other service providers
• Gyms

The programme is broken down into several different components including 4 days workshops and one-to-one mentoring:

Workshop One - Developing Aggressive Sales Strategies

This workshop will focus on the critical role the business owner plays in driving sales and will demonstrate how an energised sales process can be created within each business. Practical and easy to implement tips on how to grow sales and attract new customers will underpin this day.

Workshop Two - Negotiation & World Class Customer Service

This is an intensive one day workshop focussed on 2 separate topics: The skills needed for negotiating in the morning session and how to harness Customer Service as a sales' driver, to close the day.

Workshop Three - Visual Merchandising

This workshop will be delivered by Celine Cummins who has vast experience in the market-place, as a visual merchandiser, including with Brown Thomas.

Workshop Four - Marketing Your Business

This workshop will focus on the various options available to each business to improve communication and promote the business to a wider audience. Lots of practical examples and case studies will be used.

One-to-one Mentoring

The programme will be managed by James Burke & Associates:

James is Ireland's leading business expert and is the retail advisor for the TV series “Feargal Quinn’s Retail Therapy”. Each business will receive a 2 hour site visit from James Burke & Associates who will assess the specific business challenge and opportunities, make recommendations and develop a full action report specific to that business.

This programme is supported by the Local Enterprise Office Kilkenny and participants will be required to contribute €175 each which will cover participation in all workshops, the one to one mentor session and all refreshments

There are a maximum of 15 spaces on this programme and these will be allocated on a first come basis.

Online Booking Available     Retail Development Programme