Tuesday 3rd August 2010
Smart Retailers Profit From Club Membership
Recent results have shown that joining the elite group of over 2,200 independent retailers who belong to the Xtra Local Retail Club is a smart way to deliver a profit hike.
During the last 12 months retailer members of the club have seen sales grow on average by 14 percent proving that club membership can make a difference.
“We continue to be on the lookout for new members, those who are quick to realize that being a member of this club that consistently has 35-40 promotional offers, at any one time, to pass on to its customers, makes smart business sense. Club member retailers get access to the best deals and excellent promotional support and these combine to drive consumer footfall into their stores.” So says Mark Bottomley, the manager at the Bestway Group responsible for the Best in and Xtra Local Retail Clubs.
Bottomley continued: “There has never been a better time for retailers to change the way they trade and with access to some of the best deals available from leading brands like Coca Cola, UB, Walkers, Diageo and Cadbury, we’re not surprised at the excellent growth from both the Xtra Local Club and Best in Clubs during the first half of this year. The fascias are also fast becoming recognized and respected by shoppers using their local stores across the UK.
One retailer who has recently joined up to Xtra Local is Bruce Singh with his Clarkes store at Maltby, Rotherham, Yorkshire who said, ”Since opening my business and joining the Xtra Local Retail Club, Batleys has advised me on everything including range, display and layout. It means I can now compete with everyone else on the High Street. I am delighted; my customer spend has increased and my overall sales have increased by approx 15 percent a week. I have now taken my business to the next level by having a Best In/Xtra Local Fascia installed. It has given my store more recognition and together with branded promotional leaflets, customers are linking the leaflets to the store as the branding links up. The whole initiative has increased footfall and brought in brand new customers and my regular customers say how much better the store looks. I have created a gondola end to ensure every customer sees the range of promotions, which is generating extra sales. Giving my business a new symbol identity in the market place has raised the profile of the store and put me centre of the High Street.
From a standing start in January 2010 Bestway/Batleys now has over 70 Xtra Local Fascia stores amongst its 2,200 strong retail club members. Retail Club Fascia is a very important part of the long-term development of our retail club scheme; it is also helping to secure strong sales growth for Bestway & Batleys and our members. The independent convenience channel is changing constantly and as a business we embrace this and regard it as an opportunity. In its short life, the Xtra Local Retail Club has delivered well for its members and sees it going from strength to strength in the current challenging market.
By the end of this year Bestway and Batleys hopes to have in excess of 100 new fascia retailers across the UK helping deliver professional retailing to local communities. Consumer shopping habits are changing; they are more demanding and more expectant! Consumers demand hundred percent availability and good honest value. Bottomley added, “It’s our aim to deliver such to our members with a consistent, strong convenience promotional programme to satisfy their customer base whilst remaining competitive, profitable, professional and above all successfully independent.”