Symbol Group & Co-Brand
What is the Nisa Symbol Group?
The award-winning Nisa Symbol Group was launched in 2003 and there are now over 600 Nisa fascia stores throughout the UK deriving significant revenue increases, cost and trading benefits through its membership. In addition, all Symbol Group members can qualify for additional Symbol Group development rebates simply by operating to the highest store standards.
The Symbol Group team works closely with members to lead new and existing store design, layout and conversion to the Nisa fascia, of which there are two different store formats available to suit the member’s specific location and store size.
What store formats are available under the Nisa fascia?
There are two different store formats available for members to choose from.
- Nisa Extra
- For stores in excess of 3,000 sq ft
- Fitted to Nisa’s highest specification
- Providing the very best in convenience retailing
- Nisa Local
- For stores of up to 3,000 sq.ft
- Based in a busy location
- An ideal package for strong community stores
What is involved in a typical store conversion to the Nisa fascia?
Firstly, a Nisa Store Survey is undertaken. This examines, in great detail, the demographics and age profile of customers in the catchment area of the store. It also establishes a ‘competition rating’ including competitor pricing and store facilities assessment.
The existing store layout is then assessed based on the results of the survey and altered where necessary on a bespoke basis and in close liaison with the member.
The Symbol Group development team work closely with a number of high quality shopfitters and sign contractors - working to Nisa’s store specification - to achieve the best possible refit, and the relevant store development manager project manages every job on site with the member. Each conversion is completed to a specified budget and deadline.
What additional concepts and services are available under the Nisa fascia scheme?
In addition, the team provides assistance with store development issues and works with all members to drive sales by enhancing chilled space in order to capitalise on the fast-growing chilled food category. In addition, the team can advise on boosting beers, wines and spirits sales and overall, helping members to strengthen their retailing offer.
The Symbol Group also provides support in the form of a team of expert merchandisers, providing professional advice to members and helping them to maximise customer impact.
To help members invest and up-skill their staff, Nisa also offers staff training via third party specialists in the form of its RetailPlus Scheme.
With a mixture of best practice learning and formal qualifications - such as NVQs in subjects related to convenience store retailing such as health and safety, store security, food hygiene and customer service - the scheme ensures members’ stores offer a fast, friendly and efficient personal service to all customers.
What are the benefits of the Nisa Symbol Group?
There are significant benefits to Symbol Group membership:
- Award-winning Symbol Group
- The broadest range of ambient and temperature-controlled products available to any Symbol Group at the lowest cost
- The strongest promotional support programme in the sector
- Strong, fresh and vibrant corporate identity appealing to customers
- Detailed store planning and layout advice to maximise the potential of the store
- Project management of conversion to the Nisa symbol scheme by a highly trained and skilled Nisa Store development manager
- High quality, cost effective shopfitters and signage contractors working to approved standards
- Additional quarterly business development rebates based on store assessment
- Enhanced trading terms, advice and initiatives from specific key suppliers
- Being part of the fastest growing Symbol Group operating the highest average store size and turnover in the sector
- For retailers operating large supermarket-style stores or groups of multiple stores with a strong locally-known name, Nisa offers a fully bespoke Nisa co-branded store fascia package
- Merchandising to Nisa Category Management plans by skilled in-house merchandising teams
- Store launch fun-day packages tailored to meet the needs of the member
- Nisa FM, satellite-based radio delivering music and store-specific advertising of Nisa promotions