Welcome to the latest issue of Retail Rocks, the online magazine created for retailers of all sizes and stages of the game.

In this issue we meet Tony Dale, of Customers and Lifestyles, who talks about why consumers really needing Bricks and Mortar retailers, particularly in the face of Brexit. We highlight two fascinating White Papers - one from Mok O'Keeffe, Founder of The Innovation Beehive who has worked with organisations such as Boots and McDonald's and looks at how empowering team members and evolving with their help will transform a retail business. We also look at a paper from Trust Systems who discuss how technology in retail can ensure a business will thrive not just survive.

We also have marketing experts including Darren Low from Liquorice who looks at how bearing the community in mind will work wonders for your business and James Holmes CoFounder of Flykartel® who suggests great ways to ensure you make the most of your media budget.

We embrace social media again in this issue, with some fascinating results from Maybe* listening platform with regards to what customers want from gifting retailers. For inspiration we meet two members of the Cheltenham BID - Lakeland and L'Una Design - as well as independent retailer based in Cirencester - m.a.d.e.

The aim of Retail Rocks is simply to share information with local retailers so we can work together and continue to show the rest of the world that the Cotswolds is a fantastic place to live, work and most definitely shop.

A big thank you to our sponsors listed below, their belief in the industry and subsequent support of the magazine has meant it is free to read for all. Another huge thank you to one of our fave Rockers: award-winning body artist Mona Turnbull and her model Blaize Lynch for our cover photo.

If you have any feedback or areas you'd like covered in future issues please don't hesitate to get in touch at melissa@rockthecotswolds.com.

Melissa

Melissa Ormiston

Editor

Retail Rocks the Cotswolds

Rock the Cotswolds is a not-for-profit campaign. It was launched in 2014 by Oli Christie, Nicky Godding and Melissa Ormiston to challenge popular misconceptions of the area as simply rolling vistas and pretty villages.

While great for tourism, this picture overlooks the region’s many world-leading businesses, including retailers, which offer ambitious young and skilled people a great work/life balance. We all know there’s as much going on across Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire as in London and you just need to know where to look.

Rock the Cotswolds regularly reveals new people and businesses who are making their mark across the Cotswolds. Called Rock the Cotswolds’ Rockers, over 200 are profiled and showcased every month on www.rockthecotswolds.com.

Massive thanks to the supporters of Retail Rocks online magazine including: