Inside Retail launches online hub to support independent retailers

Ascential Events, the owner of several trade shows including Pure London, has launched an online hub to help independent retailers meet the challenges that are arising from transformation of the retail industry.

Inside Retail was conceived following 12 months of research among hundreds of independent retailers which revealed "an appetite for a platform focused on helping independents to leverage new technologies and trends and level the playing field between them and their larger scale competitors" the group said.

The website includes information and advice on the topics that independent retailers said concerned them the most such as communicating with customers, product trends and e-commerce. It is designed to help independent retailers at any stage in their development and content is divided into the following categories, Getting Started, Up and Running, Branching Out and Fine Tuning.

Content is presented in a range of formats such as webinars, videos, white papers, seminar sessions, masterclasses and reports with tips and advice from industry experts. Articles on the site include: Nine things to consider before setting up online; How to expand from your first store; and Are pop-ups a smarter way to set up shop?

Speaking of the decision to launch Inside Retail, Louise Young, divisional director of Ascential Events, said: “Independent retailers are at the heart of our business, with tens of thousands attending our events each year. It is independent retailers that set the pace of retail creativity and innovation for the wider industry. During our year round research with them it’s become clear that they have more to think about than ever before. The idea of Inside Retail is to give them insight and inspiration about how to use retail disruption to their advantage, taking on board advice from the peers and experts they need to run their businesses.”

The new service was announced yesterday at contemporary womenswear and menswear trade show Pure London, which runs until the end of today at London Olympia. Ascential Events also owns retail trade shows Spring Fair, Autumn Fair, Jewellery and Watch and Glee.