Free Workshop to help city retailers improve
Date: 4/19/2013
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.comSPRINGFIELD — City retail businesses will get a free boost through the return of a program presented by the city's Office of Planning and Development.
"Best Retail Practices Program" is a free two-hour workshop with Christine Moynihan of Retail Visioning, Richard Griffin, a project assistant with the department explained to
Reminder Publications.
Griffin said the workshop will focus on effective advertising strategies, the design of storefronts, the internal arraignment of aisles and display areas to create effective flow in a store and how for a store owner to identify his or her core customers.
This is the second time the office has presented such a workshop, he added. It is open to 30 Springfield business owners and currently 22 have signed up.
"The reaction was great from the first one. People though it was very helpful," Griffin said.
The workshop will be from 8 to 10 a.m. on April 30 at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission conference room located at 60 Congress St.
Moynihan has been assisting businesses since 2003 and has presented this program to more than 1,000 business owners across the state and provided specific recommendations to more than 350 shops.
Following the workshop, Griffin said that two businesses will be selected for one-on-one consultations with Moynihan.
Qualifying businesses attending the workshop will also have the opportunity to apply for grant funds to implement recommended improvements to their business. The criteria for the consultations and eligibility will be explained at the workshop.
For more information and to register for the workshop, contact Griffin at 787-6020 or
rgriffin2@springfieldcityhall.com.
