The project aimed to increase the capability of managers and employees of retail SMEs for implementing both digital and on-site sales, with these 2 sides working in unison in order to both digitally transform their business and increase their sales. On the other hand, the project aimed to give to VET institutions and trainers a new innovative training methodology and tools for supporting managers and employees of retail SMEs. Specific project objectives have been to: • Upgrade the digital and numeral literacy for both retail sector employees and their trainers • Familiarize them with the most popular and up to date digital innovations. • Introduce them to common strategies regarding online marketing along with practical tips for everyday use • Put the SMEs of the retail sector into the digital arena and help them to create connections with potential customers who tend to buy online • Point them the most common mistakes and bad practices that tend to take place. • Upgrade the company’s image through digital marketing methods • Increase their sales thanks to the combination of all the above.
New technologies play a key role to the retail industry. SMEs must adapt quickly to the market demands but they lack the knowledge of the know-how. Most of them lack the incentive for change due to fear of failure without some significant guidance. RetRail project aims to offer this guidance. The needs that we have addressed through this project are a transition from the analog to the digital era, not for the large-scale companies but for the SMEs, the need of the customer to have an easier and faster purchase experience and, most of all, the need for universal access to such knowledge regardless of a company’s size. The target groups that we have addressed are SMEs with retail activities, salesmen in retail, sales managers and staff working in retail whose efficiency can be upgraded through digital innovation as well as trainers, VET institutions providing retail SMEs with training and Entrepreneurs’ Associations, Chambers of Commerce and Industry etc.