"Shopping local"

[kev@frames]

Here is an interesting one:

what are you/your local council/chamber of commerce doing to drive more people to your shops?

eg. Local Chambers of commerce (West Cornwall) are promoting the idea of compulsory purchasing the car parks of out of town retail developments, charging parking fees and using the resultant revenue to reduce or cancel parking within town centres. Awesome plan!!!

we also have a local shopopers loyalty card with over 90 of the towns shops signed up, and 8000 cards issued so far (population of the town "greater area" 20,000.

Free parking on one saturday each month Note from our Chamber of Commerce chairman
"the free parking days that we have had in Penzance not only increased footfall but also increased trade amongst retailers and refreshment providers significantly and the resultant increase in expenditure far outweighed the loss of parking revenue. The increase in the economy, whilst not measured, from free parking in towns was thererfore something that should be persued...."

Free motorcycle parking.

Maybe some ideas worth promulgating on our relative chambers of commerce? Pretty useful as most of us here (on the forum) work from retail "shop" premises.

[Moglet]

How does the local shoppers' loyalty card scheme work, Kev?

[Not your average framer]

Hi Kev,

I think you may find that that's something which they can talk about, but there's not much likelyhood of it happening.

There are very specific rules controlling the use of compulsory purchase orders and taking over someone else's existing development, to deliberately disadvantage them, is not one of them.

If challenged in the courts, I don't think they would get away with it. It would require a change in the law and to govenment policy to make it possible.

[Roboframer]

what are you/your local council/chamber of commerce doing to drive more people to your shops?.

Well, they are parking in customer parking spaces all day whilst at work to encourage shoppers to get more exercise.

But maybe all that will end soon as authority of enforcement of both time restricted spaces and yellow lines is going to be handed over to local councils. Some shopkeepers in one town (Littlehampton) are up in arms as most of their customers park on double yellows - (much too far to walk from the car parks you have to be talking at least 200 metres!) knowing they'll not get a ticket - there is no traffic warden, it's down to PCSOs, and they just don't do it.

[kev@frames]

How does the local shoppers' loyalty card scheme work, Kev?

Basically it is simplicity itself: It was organised by the Town Council, the District Council and the Chamber of Commerce. It has extended now to three towns in the (old) "Penwith District Council" area. (the district council has since been swallowed up by Cornwall County Council, but I understand Penwith committed a large slice of resources to it before they were assimilated) Pretty well backed up by our MP as well, and the newspapers.

it works like this: shops issue the plastic cards once the shopper fills in an application form.
the cards/forms are supplied FOC by the local chamber of commerce/local council.

there are a list of shops and a list of benefits, eg. apparent discounts/enhanced services/added value stuff. most businesses use the "shoppers card" to promote discounts/offers etc that they have on already.

The chamber of commerce collects an opt-in email list and paper newsletter list for future promotions.
It works very well, some neighbouring towns have them.

Hers a link that explains it better than I do http://www.penzance.co.uk/loyaltycard/i ... tm~main_pz

Yeah, absolutely right, the compulsory purchase idea is highly unlikely to come to anything at all to say the least, but as an attention-grabber it is a beauty! Gets people talking, and reminds them there are shops in town, not just on the retail parks.

Another thing thay are starting to sort out is a "town manager", dedicated to promoting retail business in the town and the "shoppers experience".

[Moglet]

Thanks for the additional info, Kev. I think that's a brilliant, and very well thought-out scheme. Wish our local business association and chamber of commerce (lack of initial caps intentional... ) were as switched-on about how when businesses in a given area come together then everyone can benefit.

The Kinsale boom was founded on a marketing co-operative between the local Chamber of Tourism and the majority of the very fine eateries in the town, under the banner of "The Good Food Circle." Transformed the local economy beyond the wildest of expectations.

[markw]

The local council here in Tetbury have tried quite hard to make short term parking free of charge by marking areas of the town centre 10 minutes parking only. This has increased the flow of people who can park close to the shops - those that want longer can park in the expensive car park.

As for the Chamber of Commerce. Tetbury is a relatively small place - and for it to have a chamber of commerce at all is quite a testament to its usefulness in the town. The Chamber organise all sorts of things to draw people in to the town - French market coming up soon, Food Festival, The Art of Tetbury, Kids competitions at Easter and of course Christmas late night opening, lights etc. It also works with the local council to try and make sure that parking plans can be sensible. Always worth joining in my opinion.

[Moglet]

The Chamber organise all sorts of things to draw people in to the town...

One of the two most significant things that our local chamber drew into the town area since I started up was a branch of Tesco (located just on the outskirts). It didn't do any favours whatsoever for the incumbent retail businesses.

The second was a property developer who erected a block of retail units and apartments on top of the town centre car park. It was over a year before any of the retail units were occupied, and some still remain idle, as do most of the apartments.

Double whammy.

[markw]

One of the two most significant things that our local chamber drew into the town area since I started up was a branch of Tesco (located just on the outskirts). It didn't do any favours whatsoever for the incumbent retail businesses.

The second was a property developer who erected a block of retail units and apartments on top of the town centre car park. It was over a year before any of the retail units were occupied, and some still remain idle, as do most of the apartments.

Double whammy.

Good to see you've got a lively chamber of commerce looking out for you Aine. We also have a fairly recent addition of a local Tesco's store - a strong representation by our CofC did help soften the impact of this giant. Local Chambers only seem to be as good as the elected officers. But if you get a good chamber then they can have a very profound effect. I am biased - I,ve chaired the local chamber in the past - and I am its honorary president at the moment. We are also lucky to have a really good Chairman at the moment - (who isnt a man).

We were only emailing today about starting an event next year to sell the local arts based businesses in the area. We have loads of people locally who run recording studios - produce films - photographers - artist - writers etc. networking them and letting people see what they do could be quite interesting - and of course might well benefit my business.

[Moglet]

Local Chambers only seem to be as good as the elected officers. But if you get a good chamber then they can have a very profound effect.

I agree with that wholeheartedly, Mark. Just seem to have drawn the short straw with my local lot. Highly incestuous group of flesh-pressers. It would be funny if the effects weren't so harmful.

[kev@frames]

Like Mark says, he's spot on observing that local chambers of commerce are only as good as their elected officers, or as good as the chairman. Ours used to be (to be charitable) rather lame, and tootless (probably wanted putting out of its misery) but nowadays it has a new lease of life, due to the latest chairman. I remember when Mike joined the chamber, and he had the same opinion as moglet of the self-serving flsh pressers. It didn't take too long for a few like minded people to arrange a coup and dispatch the old-regime once their minds had been made up.
A lot of (yawn) politics involved, but once people sensed change for the better they soon realised who was actually on their side and who wasn't.

But most of these initiatives are down to a couple of people. Getting the district and/or town councils on board seems to be the key. In our case its not really the councillors, but it was the chief executive.

Speaking with other businesses in other towns, these shoppers loyalty schemes do seem to go down very well with the shoppers as well as the businesses in the towns where they operate.
Falmouth, nearby, have a sucessful similar scheme.
Its well worth considering if you have a group of like minded retailers, and does not seem too hard to set up and administer.

shopping "local" does seem to be a theme that works round these parts. Plus they issue the cards to tourists, which helps promote the businesses.

I reckon the big factor in getting people to shop in town is parking, however. We are surrounded by three car parks so we do ok, the busiest shopping street in town isn't actually the "main" street, its the secondary street round the corner from us - and thats due soley to the vast amount of parking spaces in the four car parks within 100 yards of the street.

Parking isn't a factor i really took into account when moving from shop to shop, but it would figure large on the radar if we were to move again.

[barton]

In Derbyshire the council have launched "Near Buy"

"A campaign encouraging people to shop local and support traders is being launched by Derbyshire County Council.
The `Near-Buy, Shop Local’ campaign is just one way the county council is trying to help people during the credit crunch and will be launched over the coming weeks across Derbyshire.

Posters and window stickers will be displayed across towns and in shop windows carrying the Near-Buy, Shop Local message and urging people to spend their money in local shops, keep their towns alive and boost the local economy.

Reasons to shop locally include the fact it is easy and convenient, keeps and creates local jobs, can be a sociable experience and shoppers can get a friendlier and more personal service."

[Moglet]

In Derbyshire the council have launched "Near Buy"...

Clever name for such a campaign!

[barton]

I thought so too. I stuck thier logo on our current a5 flyer.
May help a bit.