Snapshop Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is SnapShop?
2. How often is SnapShop updated?
3. Where does the information come from?
4. How many retailers are covered and to what extent?
5. Why do you have account analysis information for some retailers but not for others?
6. What if I can't find a retailer?
7. What if I think the information on SnapShop is incorrect?
8. Can you send me a copy of your book?
9. I would like to cancel my subscription. How do I go about doing that?
10. I only want some of the information on SnapShop; do you offer a bespoke list service?
11. What is the connection between FSP Retail and SnapShop?
12. How do I submit information for a retailer?

    Before I buy

13. Can I see a demonstration of what is on SnapShop?
14. Can I download your demo?
15. Is there an example of the type of information I'll find on SnapShop?
16. Can I have a trial of SnapShop

    Fees/Payments

17. What does SnapShop cost?
18. How do I become a member?
19. How do I add more credits to my Pay-As-You-Go account?
20. How do I upgrade my Associate/PAYG account to a full membership
21. What types of credit cards do you accept? Can I pay by cheque?
22. If I pay for my purchases with a credit card, are those transactions secure?
23. How will the charge appear on my bank/credit card statement?

    Login/Technical

24. How do I change my email address/password?
25. I can't create an account/ I can't Login
26. I forgot my Login details
27. SnapShop says I am already logged in, but I’m not
28. Can I login from any computer with my username and password, or am I limited to a single computer?
29. How do I reactivate an expired account?

1. What is SnapShop

SnapShop is an online database service providing a variety of information on UK retailers. We hold around 2,300 records on all the major retailers, plus some smaller, regional companies and selected online and specialist businesses.

The content of SnapShop is determined by FSP and may be added to, changed or withdrawn at any time.

Information is accessed by subscribers via www.snap-shop.co.uk, using the interface to search for whatever information they require, including retailer specific:

• Overview/ownership history and fascia photographs
• Categorization based on merchandise, price positioning and target customer profiling
• Contact details for key names within retail companies (telephone and email addresses)
• Sales results, split by division and reporting period
• Official accounts information, including analysis and downloadable files
• Store numbers and distribution details, plus sales area and density figures
• Rent information for specific store locations across the UK with NSLSP ranking
• Up to date news articles from a variety of different sources on a wide range of topics

Information can be filtered in a number of ways, and results can be displayed either by merchandise category or alphabetically.

SnapShop features a separate, powerful news search section, which contains retailer specific, industry general and retail property news.

The SnapShop site also contains retail and economic statistics, a regularly updated industry blog and we produce a monthly newsletter, available to subscribers of all packages.

2. How often is SnapShop updated?

The database behind SnapShop is a working tool for FSP and is constantly updated. New information is transferred to SnapShop on a daily basis.

3. Where does the information come from?

Most of the information on SnapShop is publicly available, however, our dedicated staff at FSP have done the hard work and brought it all together in one reference source for you. Specifically, much of the information comes from trade journals and the press generally; also from the retailers' own websites and company accounts filed with Companies House. Some sections of SnapShop are also developed using the expertise of FSPs own consultants.

4. How many retailers are covered and to what extent?

There are over 2,300 retailer records on SnapShop. For many of these, the information is extensive with data provided in all areas. For others, primarily because they are small, very specialist, or new to the UK market, the information is limited. However, with the data on SnapShop constantly being reviewed, the information available on any one company will always increase.

5. Why do you have account analysis information for some retailers but not for others?

All limited companies in the UK are registered at Companies House, an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, and we currently get our accounts information direct from this body. These accounts are then sent to our Analysis team, who provide the in-depth information that you see on SnapShop. There are a number of reasons why some accounts information might be missing – the company could be too new to have filed accounts yet, we may not have it on our monitor, or it may be that we have simply not received analysis back from our Accounts team yet. Account analysis information should now be available for all top 500 retailers in the UK, or their parent company.

6. What if I can't find a retailer?

We are confident that you will find just about any UK retailer you can think of on SnapShop, however, if you are unable to find the retailer you're interested in, please contact us at snapshop@fspretail.com and we shall make every effort to find the information for you. SnapShop is not just a website, but is a service to our customers! Please note that we do not cover small independent retailers that operate in only one town or a very limited area.

7. What if I think the information on SnapShop is incorrect?

Although we make every effort to ensure SnapShop is always accurate and up to date, there may be occasions when we have missed something. If this is the case, please click on our missing information link on the retailer record and let us know about it. Feedback is always welcome and we shall always follow up on it, aiming to provide you with the correct information as soon as possible.

8. Can you send me a copy of your book?

Unfortunately, we do not print hard copies of the information on SnapShop. We do not and have never produced a book of this sort. Printed retailer reports/profiles can be purchased on an individual basis; for more details about this, please contact us at snapshop@fspretail.com.

9. I would like to cancel my subscription. How do I go about doing that?

You can cancel your Membership at any time by emailing us at snapshop@fspretail.com. Due to the nature of SnapShop Membership, we do not provide refunds, full or partial, at any time. If you think you have purchased SnapShop accidentally, we will consider and investigate refunds on an individual basis.

10. I only want some of the information on SnapShop; do you offer a bespoke/mailing list provision purchase service?

Ordinarily, no, FSP is not prepared to sell SnapShop data in list format. However, we are prepared to consider individual requests to determine workload involved and value of the data, to see if we can help. Please email us on snapshop@fspretail.com.

11. What is the connection between FSP and SnapShop?

The database behind SnapShop is a working tool for retail business consultants FSP, and is used in all our project undertakings. Recognising how useful this database is, FSP decided to launch SnapShop as a separate service in 2005.

12. How do I submit information for a retailer?

If you have some information about a retailer that we do not have on our database, please use the Feedback/Missing Info links around the site or just send us an email at snapshop@fspretail.com.

13. Can I see a demonstration of what is on SnapShop?

A demonstration movie can be found under the Demo link on the site, and shows you exactly how SnapShop works. The Demo guides you through using the advanced search filters, what information is included, how information is displayed, plus the news search and retail and economic statistics sections of the site, Alternatively, if you signup to SnapShop FreeZone we will send you an information pack which includes all the relevant information for you to see how SnapShop works.

14. Can I download your demo?

Yes, the demo is available for download by email request. Please contact us on snapshop@fspretail.com.

15. Is there an example of the type of information I'll find on SnapShop?

If you signup to SnapShop FreeZone we will send you a link to an example retailer. Alternatively, the record for the retailer Next is unlocked, and may prove a useful example for those wishing to see how our information is displayed. This record can be found here.

16. Can I have a trial of SnapShop?

We do not offer free trials. Our information pack and example record cover the scope and content of SnapShop, and with our Pay-As-You-Go service you can access the information for a few retailers, without committing to a Full Membership.

17. What does SnapShop cost?

There are a variety of Membership options available for SnapShop. This is a quick reference guide; for more details about the individual Memberships, keep reading.

• Full Membership - £950 +VAT
• Associate Contacts - £500 +VAT
• Associate Performance - £620 +VAT
• Pay As You Go - £10 per credit, £50 +VAT minimum purchase
• Multiple Licences – discounted according to number of users. For example, x2 Memberships = £1568+VAT, x3 Memberships = £2185 +VAT, x4 Memberships £2803 +VAT etc.

More about Memberships…

Full, unlimited access to the site is £950 +VAT per year. This particular subscription is great for those needing a one-stop-shop for retail intelligence. Further enhanced with Favourites and Alerts, Full membership ensures you keep on top of the changes to your key retailers.

Our Associate Memberships provide cost effective solutions for clients wishing to access only certain parts of the SnapShop website. All Associate Memberships give you access to the advanced search filters and the company overview (the ‘About’ tab) as well as the sections paid for. Our newsletter, SnapShop Monthly is issued to members at all levels.

Associate Contacts Membership gives you access to the Contacts tab for each retailer. You use the site the same, but only the staff and Head Office contact details will be displayed (physical and email addresses, and telephone numbers).

This is a great package for those who require an initial contact source for retailers. We do not claim to have all contact details for all retailers, but this will give you a cost-effective start if you're looking to;

• Compile mailing lists
• Introduce products to market and need contacts
• Send mail shots

This Membership is £500 +VAT per year.

Associate Performance Membership is a powerful financial tool which helps you analyse the performance of retailers. With this package, you can view the filed accounts analysis, download copies of financial accounts, identify which store formats are operated and how many stores the retailer has, see the latest sales figures - including LFL and turnover changes (% and £’s), get information on recent rental deals completed by the company and view latest news.

Business analysts, town centre managers, lawyers, business consultants, shop fitters, property managers, accountants, hedge fund managers and finance directors will all find this Membership option invaluable.

This Membership is £620 +VAT per year.

We also offer a Pay As You Go service, whereby you purchase credits that allow you access to one retailer per credit for 1 week. Credits can be purchased in multiples of five, and are unlimited. Each time you click on a retailer record, you will be asked if you would like to purchase access to that record. Every time you do, one credit will be deducted and that full record will remain open for you to access for 1 week only. You cannot access the News Search with a PAYG Membership, but you can still see the retailer articles.

SnapShop also operates a sliding scale of fees for companies who wish to purchase more than one Membership. The discounts applicable in these instances are details in our Fee guide, a copy of which can be found here

18. How do I become a member?

You can purchase access to any level of Memberships online or over the phone with a credit or debit card.

Alternatively, we can arrange your membership for you and invoice you for the cost, payable by cheque or BACS. Please email snapshop@fspretail.com or phone 01494 474740 to arrange for an invoice. Note that your Membership will not be activated until the balance of the invoice is paid in full.

19. How do I add more credits to my Pay-As-You-Go account?

To add more credits to your Pay-As-You-Go account, you can use the Buy Credits screen under Manage Your Account. From here, you can choose to add a minimum of 5 further credits up to a maximum of 200 (VAT is charged on the total price of all credits chosen to add, rather than per credit). If you find you are adding more than 200 credits per year, it may be more financially sensible for you to purchase an annual licence. Please see our fee guide here for more information.

20. How do I upgrade my PAYG/Associate account to Full Membership?

Once logged in, you can View/Upgrade your account under the Manage Your Account tab. Alternatively, please contact SnapShop via email snapshop@fspretail.com or telephone 01494 474740.

21. What types of credit cards do you accept? Can I pay by cheque?

SnapShop accepts payment with all major credit and debit cards, including Amex.

Cheque is acceptable for those wishing to be invoiced; however, Memberships will not be activated until the balance of the cheque has cleared.

22. If I pay for my purchases with a credit card, are those transactions secure?

Yes. SnapShop process credit and debit card payments through a specialist online secure server, verified by Thawte Consulting cc. You will see the padlock in the bottom right of the payments screen to confirm the site is secure.

23. How will the charge appear on my bank/credit card statement?

SnapShop Membership and Pay As You Go Credit purchases will be listed as “www.snap-shop.co.uk” on your bank/credit card statement.

24. How do I change my email address/password?

To amend your account details log into SnapShop, and from there click on Manage Your Account. If you are the administrator for a multi-user account you will have the option to View User Accounts and click Update to amend any profiles. From here, you can change a range of details, including your name, address and telephone details, as well as your registered email address and password. Please inform us if your email address changes in order that you continue to receive our SnapShop Monthly newsletter.

25. I can't create an account/ I can't login

If you are having problems creating an account using the online form, we can alternatively create one for you over the telephone, using either your credit/debit card details or by invoicing you for the charges.

Should you experience difficulties logging into your account, please call us on 01494 474740 and we will rectify the problem.

26. I’ve forgotten my login details

Your login username is the email address with which you subscribed to our service; however your password is changeable. If you think you have forgotten your password, please use the form provided from the login screen under 'Forgotten Password?' and we will email the details to your registered email address. If you think you have also forgotten your registered email address, you will need to contact us on 01494 474740 or snapshop@fspretail.com and answer some basic security questions in order to retrieve your login details.

27. SnapShop says I am already logged in, but I’m not

The technology behind SnapShop does not recognise the closure of a browser window as a valid log out operation, therefore, if you simply click the window cross or exit without using the logout button, our server will not reset your details. You must always use the logout button when leaving the SnapShop site, as we cannot manually log you out of the system in such an instance. If this happens to you, please wait 20 minutes and then retry the site; you will be automatically logged out after this time. Should the problem still occur after a break of 30 minutes or more, please contact us on snapshop@fspretail.com as there may be a possibility of fraudulent activity on your account.

28. Can I login from any computer with my username and password, or am I limited to a single computer?

Yes, you can login from any computer. Your SnapShop Membership is not linked to any single computer.

29. How do I reactivate an expired account?

If your membership has lapsed and you decide you wish to reinstate access, you can do so by logging in with your old user details and choosing ‘Renew Your Membership‘ from the left hand menu. If your account has been inactive for over one year, please contact us on snapshop@fspretail.com to reactivate it. If you can no longer remember your password, please use the Forgotten Password button at the login box. If you are unable to remember any of your login details, please contact us on snapshop@fspretail.com or 01494 474740.