20 January 2008

Retail Guru to help businesses - but many concerned as to who is footing the bill?

However Caernarfon Online has been inundated with emails asking us to look into who is footing the bill. Gwynedd Council has recently been complaining of a poor settlement by the Assembly and leading to major cut backs in some services. Locals are concerned that money is being squandered in a weak publicity stunt.

We asked Gwynedd Council who is footing the bill and this is what their spokesperson had to say:

"Gwynedd Council has been planning this event in partnership with the Welsh Assembly since May 2007. The Council has been responsible for promoting the event and this has been mainly done by utilising existing staff’s time, while the Assembly has been responsible for the costs involved in arranging for Mary Portas to visit Caernarfon. The budget that the Council has committed with respect to the event is £400.”

It is unclear what fee Mary Portas is charging and what the total cost will be for rate payers. 'Stars' of this magnitude can quite easily command five figure sums and this is where the main problem seems to be. Many of the concerns came from parents and teachers who are affected by the threatened closures of schools in the area. The general censures being that if the Assembly and Gwynedd Council are cutting back on services then how can they justify spending on a fruitless publicity stunt? It is unclear if there will be any demonstrators present on the night.

In the past, retail guru Mary Portas, has used her unrivalled expertise to help transform the fortunes of the prestigious Harvey Nichols chain. On 29 January, the undisputed ‘Queen of Shops’ will be holding court at an un-missable event where she will share the secrets of her success and her unique brand of marketing know-how with local traders.

From humble beginnings on the shop floor of John Lewis, Mary is now and international authority on retail and brand communication. She has been responsible for a wide-range of marketing campaigns for international companies including Clarks, Gossard, Oasis, Swarovski, Kangol and Patek Philippe, her first book ‘Windows – The art of retail display’ has been published in five languages, with worldwide recognition.

Mary also writes a weekly feature in the Telegraph Magazine on brands, shopping and the retail experience and recently starred in her own BBC 2 television series where she visits a number of ailing shops, to help the owners revitalise their business.

Councillor Dafydd Iwan, who leads on Development on Gwynedd Council said:

“Mary Portas is an acknowledged expert in her field. The fact that she has agreed to visit Caernarfon and share her expertise is a real coup, and I’m looking forward to hearing her share her knowledge and experience with local traders.

“With its unique attractions and stunning location, Caernarfon is a town with huge potential. From the redevelopment of the Maes through to the Victoria Dock it is also a town in transformation and is crucial that local shops are ready and able to maximise the opportunities that these developments will bring.”

As well as sharing the secrets of her success, on her visit to Caernarfon, Mary will take time to explore the retail sector in Caernarfon before presenting her first impressions to the evening audience. The event held at the Celtic Royal Hotel has been arranged by Gwynedd Council, with support from the Welsh Assembly Government.

This is a once only opportunity to take part in an interactive session with a straight talking and no nonsense retail expert whose perception of Caernarfon town will be interesting to hear – whether you like what she says or not.   

Places for this event at the Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon, on Tuesday, 29 January from   6pm to 8pm are limited, and those wishing to attend will need to book early.

If you would like to book a ticket, contact Gwynedd Business Eye on 01286 676985