February 2012. St Leonards on Sea Business.
Hello happy traders.
Just a quick update on the state of play for SBA members and all St Leonards Traders.
- In the next financial year Council spending will be 50%, (read it again, 50%) down on a couple of years ago.
- There will be no money for traders, no money for regeneration schemes, no money to help the private sector, (which includes artists as well as businesses), no money at all.
- Parking and Roads will be moving to East Sussex County Council. They are more likely to say “who” rather than “how can I help” when we ring them about parking issues.
- It looks like we are odds on for a double dip recession, beginning when Greece goes toes up.
- No-one in St Leonards seems to give a patootie about future marketing or any plans to try and bring visitors and money into the area.
On the bright side we have:
- Olympic torch coming through
- Olympics
- Jubilee
Sadly no-one got in contact with any ideas for these.
Marketing and regeneration of St Leonards
If there is going to be any improvement in commerce in St Leonards we have to compete successfully against other seaside towns for a dwindling tourist and weekender pound.
To compete we need a plan, a strategy, some idea of how we are going to market St Leonards.
If you go on the internet a Google around a bit you will see that lots, LOTS, of other small towns are further down the road with this.
They have planned, they have put those plans into action. And they are getting the trade we want.
We cannot rely on external funding for this. With money extremely short the council will support local essential services not private sector shops.
So what do we do?
First we see who wants to help, to contribute ideas, to get this moving.
Then the group starts work.
Interested? Please email Matthew on info@sba-online.co.uk and we can arrange a chat.
Local Housing
Local Space Housing Association is taking over the management of housing in the 7 Streets area, (the bit directly north of Silchester Road mostly).
They have just being awarded this in a project started by HBC, and are running a weekend long workshop(s) in The Magnet Centre next weekend, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st January.
There is one workshop specifically aimed at local business, the Local Economy Workshop, Friday, 18:15 (lasts about an hour)
Everyone is welcome to all workshops.
You can find out more by downloading a leaflet here, or by contacting Gensing Forum, on Silchester Road. 01424 438 291, office@gcsl.org.uk
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year!
The new year will see The SBA start moving forward with some important plans and the start of some potentially great projects to help all the traders in the area, as well as the area as a whole.
If you are interested in finding out more and even giving a hand please email at the contact here.
Missing a main chance
Are you taking advantage of what is on offer? The marketing opportunities that could and should translate into sales?
For instance some local shops were offered free coverage on The Observer and a local website.
Thats maybe 20,000 people seeing their shop.
Given the average takeup of 2%, (low for local), that’s 400 people interested in that shop.
Lets say 5%, only 5%, come and buy something.
Would you say No thanks! to 20 new customers who cost virtually nothing to acquire?
20 customers spending money? 20 people to turn into repeat customers? 20 people spreading word of mouth recommendations about you?
Are you missing chances?
Police message: no probs at the moment
From Hastings Police, (via Town Centre Management)
There are continual rumours circulating on social media about local disorder but we can confirm that we have not been called to any incidents of disorder or violence.
Sussex Police are providing support to the Metropolitan Police but whilst recognising the national issue, local policing comes first.
Hastings Police is fully prepared should there be any disturbances locally, but at present we have no information to suggest that there is a risk of this happening.
We will keep you informed should the situation change.
St Leonards Gardens; Family Delights Day, 31/7
From The Friends of St Leonards Gardens:
We need volunteers to help staff our event in St Leonards Gardens on Saturday 30th July. As you may remember this was a very successful event last year and we had 350 attending – a great day !! 
Click picture to enlarge it
The event is a collaboration with Hastings Intercultural Organisation, Friends of St Leonards Gardens with support from Hastings BC, The Isabel Blackman Foundation and SE England Faiths Forum. Please let us know if you can help on the day. We will need some set up help from 12 noon and more help from about 2:00 to 5:30pm to help as Stewards and to be responsible for drinks and food. We will allocate a task once you let us know you are available. Thanks in advance for your help, Tim Miller and the Planning Committee. timjmiller@onetel.net
Advertising Sales
This has just arrived from Rob Woods, Town Centre Management:
Hi
I’ve just been informed that advertising reps are in town trying to sell something called “community Ad” I can’t advise you on the provenance of this organization as I don’t know them but they have certainly not discussed advertising opportunities with me and do not have any endorsement from Town centre Management
Open Meeting Gensing Forum
OPEN MEETING
THURSDAY 28th JULY 2011
At the Community Information Centre
16 Silchester Road
6pm for 6.30
PRESENTATION
by Kerry Culbert and Stephanie Roots,
Senior Borough Planners
ON
SHAPING HASTINGS
HASTINGS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
CORE STRATEGY INFORMAL CONSULATION
on
numbers of new homes, specific policy changes,
and spatial strategy.
No Meeting
There is No meeting this Wednesday for SBA members or committee.
Please watch this space for developing news.
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