Applications are now open for Pivot Brixton (www.pivotbrixton.com), a new business support service for Brixton’s independent retailers to get on the right growth track and sharpen their competitive edge in an increasingly complex local retail environment. The brainchild of local entrepreneur and cultural champion Margot Rodway-Brown, Pivot Brixton was established in partnership with Lambeth Council and the Brixton BID (Business Improvement District), to boost independent retailers’ performance amidst Brixton’s ever-changing and booming retail ecosystem.
Aptly named Pivot Brixton, its aim is to strategically leverage the business potential of each retailer on the programme, guide them as a collective in rapidly moving retail forward in Brixton and celebrate the agile and nimble approach of small boutiques, shops, beauty salons, market stalls and service providers and how they define Brixton’s vibrant community.
Running from September-April 2016, Pivot Brixton operates as a free programme of events, training days and 1-2-1 expert support surgeries from international business, branding and retail experts for a select group of 15 local retail owners. Candidates must operate an existing retail premise in Brixton. Applications close on 30th September and finalists will be invited to an interview by the Pivot Brixton panel to secure one of the 15 spots on the programme.
Successful applicants will receive 1-2-1 access to renowned retail experts in branding, visual merchandising, finance and more and will be treated to a series of training and events alongside their peers, including a series of #BraveBranding Masterclasses hosted by Brixton-based business growth charity Brand Amplifier, focusing on how to harness and amplify each retailer’s brand voice across media, social media and online channels. Pivot Brixton will speak to business owners from a place of experience, enabling them to refresh business models and tap into changing demographics and new markets – achieving traction for Brixton as a destination for unique retail experiences in the capital.
Margot Rodway-Brown, longtime local resident and retailer and Pivot Brixton’s founder, explains: “Brixton is famous for its social and cultural mix, which is intrinsically linked to the types of retail businesses that can survive and thrive here. I understand first-hand the obstacles and the opportunities for local retailers and have assembled a fantastic Pivot Brixton team of expert mentors and trainers to provide the confidence, skills and insights for retailers to pivot their businesses in the right direction. The aim is for Brixton’s small retailers to thrive and collectively champion the area’s unique personality through their healthy and diverse retail offerings.
The savvy team of programme experts include: Elizabeth McGrath, visual branding and merchandising expert Maria Borstnar, consumer psychologist Margot Rodway-Brown, retail expert and founder of The Adornment Group Monica Beckles, employment expert Segun Olowookere, chartered management accountant and finance expert Venessa Bennett, graphic designer
Pivot Brixton will act as a collective of diverse but like-minded local entrepreneurs and employers who together want to benefit from a time of change and work together to further Brixton’s international reputation as a great place to live, work and shop.
About Pivot Brixton: Local entrepreneur and cultural champion Margot Rodway-Brown created Pivot Brixton to support the survival and growth of small, local retail businesses in the area. The programme launched in 2015 with the support from Lambeth Council and the Brixton BID, offering free access to business experts, training and events designed to boost retail performance and build a solid local retail collective. Fifteen retail owners will benefit from ongoing business support across finance, HR, marketing, PR, visual branding, and more. Follow their stories on www.pivotbrixton.com.
Contact and press information: Jennifer Okpapi hello@pivotbrixton.com + 44 208 671 2266 @PivotBrixton