Talking Shop: INIS

BID for Galashiels’ Retail Resilience Pilot has been supporting local businesses with tailored advice from retail expert Graham Soult, helping them identify practical ways to improve their businesses and build connections with each other. In our Talking Shop series, participants share what they’ve put into practice and the difference it’s making. This time, we hear from Claire from INIS.

“I decided to take part in the Retail Resilience Pilot because, although I took over the business five years ago, I still felt there was a lot I could learn. I saw it as a great opportunity to gain knowledge, learn from other businesses and get advice on how to move my own business forward. I could only see it being a positive experience, so I thought, why not?

The feedback I received was really positive and helpful. Some of the recommendations highlighted things I was already aware of, but having someone else point them out gave me the motivation to actually make those changes. We've since taken steps to improve the shopfront, including new window decals, signage and plans to repaint.

One of the most useful suggestions was to tell customers more about the brands and products we stock. Many of our suppliers have fantastic stories behind them, particularly around sustainability and recycled materials, but customers wouldn't necessarily know that unless they asked. We're now looking at introducing more information throughout the shop to help share those stories. It's such a simple idea, but something I hadn't really considered before."

"Beyond the practical advice, one of the biggest benefits has been meeting other local business owners. I'm naturally quite a quiet person and don't always find it easy to put myself forward for things. Taking part pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I've met some fantastic people and made connections with businesses I might never have got to know otherwise. Being able to share experiences and learn from each other has been incredibly valuable.

Overall, it's been a really positive experience. I've gained practical advice, fresh ideas and the confidence to make improvements, but just as importantly, I've made connections with other local businesses that I hope will continue long after the programme has finished.”