This newsletter can hopefully be used to highlight any issues from the meetings, help people promote themselves and their business within the group, and enable anyone who can't attend to keep up with what's happening.
- Business2Business Newsletter
- Pemberton Customer Focus Newsletter
The Business2Business Newsletter aims to provide information to local businesses on topics raised at the Pemberton Local meetings. This will only be sent out to local businesses who register for the newsletter online or who provide their details to me via the regular meetings.
The Pemberton Customer Focus Newsletter aims to bulk email every potential customer who register online, or who provide their details to the group via your business. If each business can look at signing up customers (Name & Email Address are the only pieces of information needed) the newsletter could be reaching people who are genuinely interested in shopping in Pemberton. Also, the Pemberton Customer Focus will also be copied out to the businesses, to enable each business to print out a copy of the online flyers, and hand them out to customers who don't have access to the internet.
Anyway, I would like to apologise in advance for referring to 'the representative from' in this newsletter, as I am still trying to remember everyone's names. Its nothing personal, but its likely to take me some time to get to know everybody.
I hope you find the following information useful and if you have any suggestions or comments for the website or the next newsletter, please get in touch.
Andy Entwistle
The Affordable Website Company
Recent Meeting Minutes from 11-May-2009
The Quick-Hit List
Easy answers from questions raised at the recent meeting
- YES we already have an online newsletter !!
- YES the draft www.pembertonlocal.co.uk website is online
- YES we still need everyone's details to complete the site
- YES we have approached Pemberton Councillor Paul Prescott to act as a regular contributor
- YES we have examples online of how you can promote your business
Detailed Minutes
This Months Contents
- Pemberton Local Board has now been formed
- Boost Card decision required following Local Life presentation
- Paper & Plastic 'branded' Eco-Bags
- www.pembertonlocal.co.uk needs you
- Standish Courier plans a Pemberton Business article
- Councillors stand firm on 'Free Parking In Pemberton'
- Signage Issue Needs Local Support
- Funding And Trade Directory Signage Update
- Your Business In-Brief
- Pemberton Local Board has now been formed
The Pemberton Local board has now been formed and steps are under way to develop the group into an official organisation. This is an important stage in the development of Pemberton as a trading area, as it highlights the will to make changes to the area by bringing businesses together. It allows the group to apply formally for funding to support the initiatives which are suggested, and it created a focal point for each area of development who can co-ordinate the efforts of the group.
The following content has been amended. It has been brought to my attention that the original comments were an unfair and unbalanced assessment of the 'Boost Card' scheme. As this was written following discussions with a few of the attendees, this was clearly not a comprehensive review of the service on offer, and I apologise unreservedly for the offence this may have caused.
- Boost Card decision required following Local Life presentation
At the recent meeting the representative from Local Life magazine presented the benefits of a new loyalty card scheme known as the 'Boost Card'. The scheme works by encouraging businesses to create an online identity following a consultation with Chris and his team from Local Life. Each business then shows information on the shop counter detailing all the offers available to people who present a Boost Card when they shop in the store.
- Regular Newsletter
- Single Page Website (under the Boost Card website)
- SMS promotional messaging (for an additional fee)
- No multi-national advertisers
- Promotional poster for use in each shop
- large scale Boost Card advertising throughout the area
Should anyone be interested in joining the scheme, please contact the representative from Local Life for more information.
- Paper & Plastic 'branded' Eco-Bags
The representative from England's Butchers has agreed to pursue a supplier for costs to print a large number of paper and plastic bags to help promote the area. It was suggested if enough businesses were in agreement, paper bags would help towards showing the area is committed to reducing the number of un recyclable bags it hands out to customers. There are also the options of biodegradable plastic bags for businesses handling fresh meats however, these costs may take more time to obtain.
A gentle reminder for all businesses in Pemberton to send their details to
info@pembertonlocal.co.uk to register for a free basic listing.
As the site is still in its infancy, we are offering a free 3 month trial on the Premium listings, and the Single Page Micro-Sites to ensure the site is up and running before it costs you a penny. If you would like to see the premium and micro-site listings, examples of these are available online under the 'Featured Businesses' section on the right hand side of the home page. Additionally, please let everyone near you know about registering for the Business2Business newsletter and the Pemberton Customer Focus newsletter online.
- Standish Courier plans a Pemberton Business article
Mark Smith from Goddard Smith Solicitors has heard that the Standish Courier plans to do an editorial on Pemberton and the surrounding area. Should any businesses wish to take part to help promote the area and their business, please contact Mark directly to discuss it further.
- Councillors stand firm on 'Free Parking In Pemberton'
Following concerns raised at a recent local business owners forum at The White Swan in Pemberton, Councillor Paul Prescott has approached Mr Kevin Hargreaves Traffic Manager, Traffic Group ,Department of Environmental Services to help put minds at ease over potential parking fees within Pemberton. Mr Hargreaves has provided, via Councillor Prescott the following statement which clearly states the intent of the Traffic Group with regards to paid parking in Pemberton.
"Recently a survey has been carried out to establish the use of car parks in Pemberton, this was conducted solely for the purpose of developing the Councils parking strategy and that there are no plans to charge for off Street Parking on Council Car parks in Pemberton" - Mr Kevin Hargreaves, Traffic Manager 9-May-2009
In addition to this Councillor Prescott has reiterated his support for the business community within the borough with the following statement.
"I hope that this response allays any concerns that the Business Community may have had, I would add that my ward colleagues and I would strongly oppose any attempt to introduce charging on Council car parks in Pemberton. I would like to assure the Pemberton Business Community of my continued support for them and that if I can be of any assistance to them please do not hesitate to contact me. My number is 01942 73624 and my e mail address is P.Prescott@wiganmbc.gov.uk" - Councillor Paul Prescott - 9-May-2009
- Signage Issue Needs Local Support
At the local business meeting at the White Swan recently, it was suggested that the council should review its signage, ensuring people looking to shop in the area were made fully aware of the available parking within Pemberton. With this in mind Councillor Paul Prescott has approached the Highways Department to help identify a possible improvement in the available signage. Councillor Prescott has provided the following statement.
"A number of issues were raised by the group and I undertook to look in to them on their behalf. The group raised the issue of additional signs to assist motorists to find the free car parking that is available in Pemberton Town centre. I have since then conducted a survey of the area with a officer from the Highways department, who has agreed to provide additional signs on Fleet street which will hopefully assist motorists in finding the free parking that is available to them on the Church street car park. This is in addition to the signs already provided on the main through route informing motorists of the free car parking available to them." - Councillor Paul Prescott - 9-May-2009
- Funding And Trade Directory Signage Update
Small business owners within Pemberton have raised concerns regarding the lack of signage to help promote the Pemberton township in its own right, similar to other townships throughout the borough. Councillor Paul Prescott has taken the action from the group meeting at the White Swan in Pemberton and has provided the following response.
The group also asked about the possibility of trade directory signs to that end I arranged a meeting with the Pemberton Township Manager Mr Darren Barton. Mr Barton advised Mr Smith that in order to progress this matter the group would have to advise on the format, design and specification of the proposed signs. This information would be required in order to seek permission to place the signs on the public footpath, I believe that the Environmental department would need to be consulted on this matter. Mr Barton also confirmed my comments that if the group wished to apply for funding to assist them with there scheme then they would need to be formerly constituted.- Councillor Paul Prescott - 9-May-2009
The Pemberton Local business group has now appointed a board and and the next meeting has been scheduled for Monday 10th May 2009. The meeting is intended to discuss ideas on how best to move the groups aims and objectives forward. Should any local business owners in the area be interested in attending, the owner of The White Swan in Pemberton is hosting the event, with a presentation by Local Life beginning at 6pm.
Starting next month, I am hoping to display detailed a small summary of the businesses which make up Pemberton Local. If you would like your business to appear in next months newsletter, please send a brief description about yourself, your business, and what you would like the other members of this forum to help you achieve. If you want to showcase a new product or service, or just use this newsletter to help you network with local businesses, get in touch and you and your business could be starring in next months issue.
Got a local story which you would like to add to the next newsletter, simply email us
