The newest episode of the Independent Thinking Podcast has an amazing guest Mr B's Emporium who speaks with host Alexandra about customer service and retail trends.
There are few places you can escape reality better (on the high street at least) than in a bookshop. Shelves filled with history, memoirs, adventure, sadness, scandal and delight; wonder, joy, pleasure and heartbreak. Books can transport us to another time and remind us that some thoughts and feelings are as old as time itself.
Imagination is at the heart of what makes books and authors so special, of course, but what about the booksellers themselves? Well, it turns out they can be just as imaginative as the authors on their shelves. And that’s what I’ll be exploring this week with two-time-winning bookshop Mr B’s Emporium, based in Bath.
I chat to co-founder Nic about extreme customer service and why it matters, how customers respond to world events through their reading habits, why he remains an optimist about the health of the high street and whether writers can truly predict the future.
Our resources
-
Is your lease still working for your business?
Changing costs, consumer habits and local markets mean independent retailers should regularly assess whether their lease still works for them.
-
Martyn's Law: 10 questions independent retailers are asking
Martyn’s Law sets new standards to protect the public from terrorism — here’s how small businesses can prepare for the changes.
-
High Street Matters Podcast: Message to the New PM
With the autumn Budget on the horizon, this episode is a clear message to Number 10: independent retailers deserve the same level of support as the businesses making headlines.
-
Could Your Next New Hire Come with £3,000 of Support?
Available to employers across Great Britain, the grant provides £3,000 for each eligible young person recruited, alongside recruitment support from Jobcentre Plus.