There’s no such thing as ‘good enough’ or ‘job done’. For the shopper's benefit, we are continually raising the bar for our retailers and our industry sector. SPAR has several initiatives to help you, our retailers, develop further.
Literature & Look and Learn
We like to keep our retailers and partners up-to-date, with publications providing news, information and advice, plus guides on promotions and merchandising. Retailers are also encouraged to take part in the many Look and Learn and study tour experiences provided free by SPAR.
SPAR study tours
Local and national study tours help our retailers to develop awareness of opportunities for growth, and put them in contact with other SPAR retailers, so they can discuss and learn from retail initiatives.
Each year one of our six retail development companies hosts a National Study Tour, enabling not only existing SPAR retailers but prospective SPAR retailers see the best we have to offer. The tour also covers best practice from other chains and operators in the retail industry.
Young Managers Programme
While many of our independent retailers are as local as it can get, they are part of a global brand. So we are keen to ensure our members benefit from our international experience and connections and the opportunities for knowledge-exchange and sharing that this provides.
For over 20 years SPAR International has been running a programme that brings together young talent from all SPAR countries and businesses. For one week a group of 50 meet in a selected SPAR country and learn about the full range of our retail expertise, from logistics to business strategy and marketing to merchandising. Such an experience helps these young team members gain a better understanding of SPAR as a whole, be they retailers, wholesaler employees or from the support offices.
Merchandising Masterclasses
Retailers can benefit from the latest merchandising thinking and development globally by attending annual Merchandising Masterclasses, which combine both theory and practical application.