Posted: 13th April 2011
“At the end of 2009 vacancy rates across England and Wales High streets totalled 12.4%, up from 5% in January. It is now thought that this percentage has exceeded the 15% mark”.[1]
Due to a number of factors, including increased rent and higher tax rates; retail businesses are being forced to take a more flexible approach to retail. On-line shopping has now become a global phenomenon and even the likes of Sir Phillip Green (owner of the Arcadia Group) is closing 300 stores from his successful Arcadia Empire and placing higher focus on on-line sales.
Here at WiRE we are all for on-line sales and wonderful websites, but in these difficult times, small businesses must take a mixed and all-embracing approach to finding new customers. Browsing through the brilliant WiRE Rural Marketplace, it occurred to us that we could help bring lots of new customers to WiRE members by taking the marketplace “on the road”.
So after much planning and research WiRE are hosting Marketplace Marquees at some of the best and busiest country shows this summer; getting bigger crowds to small businesses (much bigger than on the high street) and showcasing unique and diverse WiRE member products.
By exhibiting at the discounted exhibition stands within WiRE Marketplace Marquees, customers can touch, feel and live your products, they can meet you and share your passion; we think it’s a much more powerful sales pitch than a website! Footfall at country shows is on the increase, with the bigger shows exceeding footfall of 80,000 and the new trend to buy good quality and local goods, a stand in the WiRE Marketplace Marquee is a cost effective, fantastic way to get your product to new customers.
To book a stand within a WiRE marquee at Shows across the country, we still have spaces available. Visit: https://www.wireuk.org/wire-on-show.html
