#maryportas

[lisapeo]

👑 #worklikeawoman #maryportas #newbook #manifestoforchange https://www.instagram.com/p/CDBDyQyneUt/?igshid=1qe9ugbys5rjc

[shasharishi]

💕 SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES 💕 #Repost @rockfollies ・・・ As a small business owner I can’t help but notice in January of each how the local press and radio enjoy jumping on the negative band wagon and harp on that the “High Street is dead and dying” NO ITS NOT !!! There are always challenges but we have vibrant exciting High Streets, “an estimated £812 million was spent with small businesses across the UK on small Business Saturday. This was an increase of 8% on last year. More than 250 small business organisations supported the nationwide initiative, including the Federation of Small Businesses. Local economies and high streets received a boost as shoppers showed support for small businesses, coming out in force for the UK's sixth annual Small Business Saturday (1 December 2018). “. Yes people shop on line and it is changing, but in fact it always has changed we don’t buy our goods or even the same goods in the same way we did in 1900 or even in 1980 it’s 2019 ! People buy on line and on the High Street. Some human beings love going into a village/town/city centre with family friends, children partners or alone to ‘experience’ having a coffee and cake, having a hair cut, getting a beauty treatment, having lunch and buying clothes, shoes, home ware and gifts, seeing Father Christmas, the Easter Bunny, Decorated Giraffes! They visit the supermarket and local suppliers. They shop in chains and independent boutiques. Photo is of a local vocal group Voices Unlimited performing to the Christmas shoppers in person in Reindeer Court Worcester, they made everyone smile. We are very lucky in Worcester we have The River, The Cathedral, The Hive, The University, Museums, Art Gallery, The High Street, Small Streets and Courtyards, Chains and 100’s of independent businesses. Worcester was also in the top 13 in the national High Street awards, so there must be at least another 12 ! Enjoy them all but especially Worcester it’s rather Special 💪🏻. #smallbizsatuk #smallbusinesssaturday #visitworcester #maryportas #dawnoporter #worcestercathedral #worcesterstandstall @bbchw @worcesternews @voicesunlimited https://www.instagram.com/p/BsgDaHEgw93/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1r4f9bad4ctn1

[theprudentpair-blog]

Mary, Queen of (Charity) Shops

A lovely friend of mine, and follower of this blog, lent me Mary Portas’s book on how to shop. She thought I’d be interested seeing as I write a blog essentially about shopping. I was. Mary Portas thinks that shopping is an art and in this book gives hints and tips on how to make shopping the best experience possible, so I wondered if these could be applied to charity shop shopping.

Here are her main points –

Don’t stand for shoddy service.

Ingrid has talked about this in her post on customer service and I agree with her Just because it’s a charity shop and run by volunteers doesn’t mean that shopping in them shouldn’t be a pleasant experience. In one of our local charity shops the woman who works there is really sullen. I don’t go in there very often.

Never shop on a Saturday.

Not everyone has this privilege. I usually shop in the week because I can but I did charity shop on a Saturday recently and it was a LOT more crowded. But shopping wasn’t impossible. However, I did find myself on the same circuit as a few people and saw the same faces in every shop, can get a little embarrassing.

Dress the part (i.e dress down and wear flats).

I don’t think this is relevant for charity shopping, it’s not like you’d spend a whole day shopping as you might if you were visiting proper shops. Mary does say to go shopping on a good hair day which I thought silly at first then remembered buying a dress to try on at home (no changing room in that charity shop). I wasn’t sure and was thinking of taking it back but tried it again when it just so happened that my hair looked better and I thought the dress was great. Now, the dress hadn’t changed….

Don’t buy in haste.

Mary Portas says to put items back and leave it until the end of the day to decide. You, of course, can’t do this with charity shops as you might miss out all together. If you’re uncertain you should check the shops returns policy. Most charity shops are happy to take things back, especially the ones without changing rooms.

So, mainly, I think High Street shopping rules can apply to charity shops and that Mary Portas has got it right. She also mentions the different type of shopper and asked if we could identify ourselves from the “tribes” she describes. I’m definitely an “Originator” I thought – ‘never in tailored clothes but not tracksuit bottoms either, always looks effortlessly stylish with a hint of bohemian.’ Yeah, right, who am I trying to kid, I’m a “Bargainista” through and through! 

[theysyears]

Just landed our hands on Mary Portas' new book 'Shop Girl'

[happyglorious]

We’re experiencing life as a real live shop for two weeks in PopUp Britain’s brilliant scheme to reinvigorate the high street. Based in Ashford, this is the only PopUp shop in Kent so far, and we feel very lucky to be a part of it.

Although we have exhibited at several fairs, having a shop is an entirely different ball game. PopUp Britain is focused on collaboration, with more than one business filling the space, and helping each other on the path to success. As well as the obvious benefits, (caffeine breaks!) this offers small businesses a chance to learn from one another, work together on visual merchandising, and swap stories, whilst at the same time filling a shop that would otherwise be nothing but an empty window on the high street.

This brilliant system gives small businesses the chance to interact and gain feedback from customers; increasingly important in the convenient, but faceless world of online retail.

In the run up to Mother’s Day, we look forward to the rest of our time here. We also hope to see more PopUp shops appearing around the country, to help give British businesses the leg-up that they deserve!

Three Cheers for Blighty! x

To find out more about PopUp Britain or to apply, go to www.popupbritain.com To stay up to date about Ashford and the improvements being made as part of the Portas Pilot scheme, follow https://twitter.com/love_ashford on Twitter

[aprilsalford2012]

Mary Portas - Queen of shops

Mary Portas has been on our screens for the last few years and has had a big impact on retail and also the government. I really like her as she is real and says exactly what she thinks, she isn't shying away from the high street problem which is such a British trait. Before Tash mentioned to look at her I completely forgot about her and her shop tips, I think the more I look at her I will get some great inspiration and take some of her shopping tips away with me and those will reflect in my ladies footwear concept store. "Ms Portas, who led a government review designed to revive high streets in 2011, said: “High streets are the heartbeats of our towns; when they are good, they bring a web of security, a sense of belonging and vital community services to a place. When they decline, the fabric of a place can decline with it.” She warned that there were “no quick fixes”, but said she was “delighted” that large retailers were “taking social responsibility” by supporting the regeneration scheme. Ms Portas added that a high street “crisis” had “become the social, cultural and community issue of our times”." - taken from the telegraph.