Free digital workshops to keep the town’s high street thriving

With 10% of all retail sales being online, having an internet presence has been identified as the key to keeping Chesterfield high street thriving. To help the town’s independent retailers get internet savvy, Destination Chesterfield is running a free Digital High Street course.

The free course is open to any retail, leisure, hospitality, and tourism businesses based in the borough of Chesterfield.

The National Skills Academy, with the Association of Town and City Managers have developed the course to assist small businesses to develop a multi-channel marketing approach and to meet customer’s expectations in the digital age.

It comprises three four hour modules covering key areas of online marketing including, understanding customer and digital marketing, developing business online and using social media to grow business.

With 60% of shoppers admitting to ‘showrooming’, browsing in store then buying online later on, (SmartFocus), consumers’ virtual and physical purchasing habits are merging. And retailers having an online and high street presence is seen as critical to Chesterfield retaining its position as a top shopping destination.

Destination Chesterfield Manager, Dominic Stevens said: “The internet is something retailers cannot ignore. Research has shown that two thirds of shoppers are more likely to purchase something if they were sent an email or text with a discount code.  This course will give Chesterfield’s retailers the skills, know-how and tools to help them compete in the online and physical marketplace and I’m delighted that we can offer it free of charge.”

The Digital High Street course is being delivered by the Source in partnership with Destination Chesterfield and Chesterfield Borough Council

It will take place at the Proact Stadium in Chesterfield, and will run across three half day sessions which will include light refreshments and a light lunch. To receive the course for free, businesses must attend all modules. Dates for the Digital High Street course are as follows:

Module one: Understanding your customer and digital marketing – Thursday 23rd October

Module two: Developing your business online – Thursday 30th October

Module three: Grow your business through social media – Thursday 6th November

For further information or to make a course booking, please contact Tom Lindop at The Source Academy by emailing:Tom.Lindop@thesourceacademy.co.uk or calling: 07711595339

Source:Destination Chesterfield