Local retail has a model problem
In many cities and towns, small retail has been losing ground for years. The causes are well known — online competition, changing habits, lack of generational succession — but the solutions applied tend to stay on the surface: a website, a social media profile, a discount.
The real problem is one of business model. Most local shops operate with structures designed for a market that has already changed. Competing today is not just about being online; it takes rethinking what you sell, to whom and how, and then using technology to support it.
Our approach
We work with individual shops and with the institutions that support the sector. In both cases, the logic is the same: understand the real problem of each business first, then design a solution that makes sense, and provide hands-on support so the change sticks.
When we talk about modernisation, we don't mean just technology. We mean reviewing the value proposition, the product range, the shopping experience, customer relationships and competitive positioning. Digitalisation is a tool within that review, not an end in itself.
When working with public programmes, we design projects that reach the individual shop: diagnosis per business, practical training, personalised support and measurement of real results.
What we do
- Strategic plans for the retail sector of a municipality, commercial area or district. Situation analysis, action lines and execution timeline.
- Business model diagnosis and redesign for shops that need to rethink their proposition: who they sell to, how they sell, what makes them different and how they can grow.
- Retail modernisation programmes. Shopping experience improvement, image updates, management process reviews and customer service training.
- Innovation and digital transformation projects. Well-executed online presence, stock and sales management tools, data-driven decisions, social media strategy.
- Practical training for shopkeepers and sales teams: applied workshops, not theory. From digital marketing to point-of-sale management.
- Commercial district and municipal market activation. Joint campaigns, area branding and footfall-driving projects for neighbourhood retail.
Who this service is for
City councils and commerce departments that want to design support policies with real data and projects that get executed, not plans that end up in a drawer.
Chambers of commerce looking for modernisation and training programmes for their members, with a practical focus and results measurement.
Trader associations that need a shared strategy for their area: branding, communication, activations and a common roadmap.
Individual shops that want to evolve their business — rethink the model, improve the shopping experience or go digital — with professional support.
Municipal markets looking to reinvent themselves: new value proposition, improved offer, communication and positioning against other retail formats.
What we deliver
Sector diagnosis, action lines, prioritised actions and execution timeline. Designed to be executed, with tracking indicators.
Analysis of the business model, shopping experience, management and digital presence. With concrete improvement proposals and prioritisation.
Coordinated set of actions — training, individual consultancy, tools and activations — with defined timeline and resources.
Impact measurement: quantitative indicators (participation, satisfaction, digital improvement) and qualitative progress assessment.
How we work
Each project follows a clear process, adapted to the scope and client type.
We get to know the commercial reality on the ground: walk the area, talk to shopkeepers, analyse activity data and understand local dynamics before proposing anything.
We define the strategy, specific actions, timeline and required resources. For institutional programmes, we design within the available budget and deadlines.
We launch the actions: training workshops, individual shop consultancy, area activations, digital tool implementation. We provide hands-on daily support, not just paperwork.
We evaluate what worked and what needs correction. We deliver a results report with concrete indicators and, if the programme continues, adjust the strategy for the next phase.
Timelines depend on project type. An individual diagnosis can be completed in 2-3 weeks. A full municipal programme usually runs 4 to 8 months.
About local commerce
Ready to move your retail?
Tell us about your project or your municipality's. We design the programme, train the shopkeepers and measure what gets done.
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