Retail
The retail sector is a significant part of the Island’s economy contributing an essential service which, in today’s world, is also seen as a prominent leisure activity. To keep pace with rising expectations of the public, it is becoming increasingly important to develop the shopping experience and continue to attract custom. Change is necessary for business growth and needs to be managed and implemented by able staff who are committed to their enterprise and retailing as a varied and interesting career.
The DTI has a role to play in supporting the commitment to develop the retail sector and held an initial seminar to stimulate thinking about ways to promote retail business. Training at management level is a key requirement for promoting business development. As learning is implemented and passed on, retail staff will benefit by ‘learning by osmosis’, retail operations can be improved, service provided to customers can be enhanced and retail businesses can grow and prosper. The Department plans to develop appropriate methods of learning to support the existing training available for retailers on the Island and to continue to work with the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce, Douglas Development Partnership and other retail organisations to draw on the valuable expertise existing in the sector. The aim is to ensure that training is accessible to all retailers, regardless of size, who have a keen interest and desire to learn.
Please also see the DTI’s Training Schemes and Initiatives for further information.
Latest News
Shopiom.com is launched
The Isle of Man's new online shopping portal is now live promoting local retailers as well as helping and encouraging consumers to shop locally. Shopiom.com offers you 'shopping heaven twenty four seven' by providing you with access to the best that the Isle of Man has to offer, and may even surprise you by introducing you to new shops and products you didn't even know existed!
Exciting Opportunity for Isle of Man Retailers
The DTI arre currently running a project to help local independent retailers increase sales by harnessing the power of the Internet.
The project has two parts. Firstly, suitable retailers will be helped to set up and run their own successful shopping website to generate both new online sales opportunities and also to encourage consumers into their shops. Secondly, a new, exciting website will be launched later this year that promotes local retailers, helping and encouraging consumers to shop locally.
The project is a partnership between the DTI and a leading European provider of e-commerce solutions, Venda (www.venda.com). It has been designed to give participating retailers the opportunity to sell online for a minimal financial outlay and with no requirement for technical knowledge about setting up and running a website. All independent product retail websites will be linked through to an Isle of Man shopping directory site which will be owned and run by the DTI and will provide visitors an easy way to research and buy goods from Isle of Man suppliers.
Venda – whose customers include the BBC, Superdrug, Laura Ashley, DeBeers, Arsenal Football club and many others – will provide a fully supported service which will enable the retailer to concentrate on sales rather than the technical aspects of running a website. Retailers taking up the opportunity will also benefit from built-in search engine optimisation and online marketing which will drive qualified customers to their site and maximise sales.
The project is not applicable at this time to the services industry or to franchises.
To find our more call Adrian Moore on 01624 687175 or email
| Downloadable Documents | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
You will need Adobe Acrobat to download documents that are PDFs, this is available free by following this link:
