The City of Lowell announces a new program, Best Retail Practices, to assist small retailers, restaurants and storefront service businesses in Lowell with professional advice and grant money in the areas of store and restaurant design, window and merchandise displays, signage, and cost-effective marketing tips.

The Best Retail Practices is a three-part program beginning with a 2-hour workshop and presentation using visual examples of best retail practices. The workshop will be held Tuesday morning at 8am on February 26th in the Assembly Room of the Federal Morse Building, 50 East Merrimack Street.  The snow date is March 4th, at the same time and location. Following the workshop, attendees may apply to be one of six participating businesses for in-store consultation which includes a store assessment and a written report with recommendations for improvements. The third part is an 80% matching grant of up to $2,500 for businesses that commit to making improvements as identified in the report.

The program comes out of the city’s Division of Planning and Development – Economic Development Office (DPD-EDO) and follows up on the City Manager’s Downtown Summit and ensuing effort to support small business and economic development. The DPD-EDO has selected Christine Graber from Graber Marketing to undertake the program. Ms. Graber has conducted similar work in Cambridge, MA and Nashua, NH.

Information and applications for a special rebate from National Grid is also included in the morning’s presentation.  This program replaces old lighting fixtures with new, energy efficient ones helping small businesses significantly reduce their electric bills every month.

For more information on Best Retail Practices or the National Grid Small Business Rebate Program please call Maria Dickinson at (978) 446-7200 or email her at mdickinson@lowellma.gov.  While all are invited, seating is limited and pre-registration is recommended. Attendance at the workshop by a principal of the business is a mandatory pre-requisite in the application process for the $2,500 grants.