Our aim is to increase the number of multifunctional shops in our region. A multifunctional store refers to a store that provides a wide range of services in addition to groceries. The shop has the ability to survive also in regions where the population is diminishing. Services can be both public and commercial.
Due to the multifunctionality of such rural stores the retail owners must be able to handle a variety of tasks. Four factors are especially important and vital in order for a multifunctional store to be successful and are bottlenecks which this project will attempt to solve:
1. The retailers’ roles and competence levels. 2. The commitment from the communities.
3. Institutional frameworks.
4. Distribution
Following this, it is important to develop retailers’ abilities to address these factors. They must be good retailers, of course; however they must also deal with different issues associated with social services, entrepreneurship and the various multifunctional services which are offered in addition to the regular grocery store retail.
RRR project staff will help to overcome the bottlenecks of establishing multifunctional stores and will support the start-up and running of these kinds of stores.
RRR participants are for example:- Providing retailers consultancy on developing the best store models
- Providing multi-functional retail entrepreneurship programmes locally and trans-boundary in face-to-face work shops and via the Internet
- Implementing the best multifunction retail strategy models for the participating retail shops including service/ product selection planning
- Putting in place and implementing transnational collaboration (training, exchange of experiences and contacts between retailers, consultants and partner institutions)
- Creating a model for solving the transportation problems in each region
- Setting up a functioning e-retail platform with virtual learning material, information database and help desk
Who can participate?
Shopkeepers and employees are encouraged to join the project activities if the location of the shop meets the following criteria:
The rural area should consist of less than 3000 inhabitants
Minimum 30 minutes travelling time to the nearest town or city offering a wide variety of services OR 10 km distance from the rural shop to next shop
Or your participation can be assessed and approved based on other, well justified criteria.
Participation is free of charge. RRR project cannot compensate your own costs related to the participation (e.g. your working hours). You can make a decision on your activity level in the project after a needs analysis and recommendations.
We also welcome participation in the project from other interested stakeholders and authorities with similar targets for cooperation.
Please do not hesitate to contact us!
Let’s work together to keep the cash flowing in rural shops!
