About the course
Not sure retail is even for you yet?
Start with the sanity check below, to help you decide whether this is the right path, before you commit any time or money to the idea.
Starting from scratch?
Work through the full The Retail College A–Z course: 60 essential chapters covering every stage of the journey, from your very first decision to open a store through to growing it into a thriving business — and, eventually, planning your exit. Each chapter stands alone, so it's easy to take in a bite at a time. Pausing between chapters to let each topic sink in and think about how it applies to your specific idea — that takes time, but it's time well spent.
Already run a shop, and just want the details on one specific thing?
Treat this as your reference guide. You can jump straight to what you need, whenever you need it, without wading through the rest.
By the end, you'll know how to:
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Write a solid business plan and set up your company properly
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Find, negotiate, and fit out the right premises
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Source suppliers and choose the right products to sell
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Manage money — pricing, margin, cash flow, VAT and accounts
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Market your shop, in-store and online
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Hire, manage, and motivate your team
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Run the shop day-to-day — from the till to compliance to customer service
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Plan your eventual exit, when the time is right
Every chapter will give you a full understanding of the topic in hand, comes with hints, tips, and step-by-step examples — this will help you get from an idea to open doors (and beyond) with confidence or fine-tuning one you already run.
Let's get started.
Access the Course
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