Following the BBN meeting last month, it is clear that we are all going to be facing many challenges in the months to come, both leisure/hospitality and retail businesses. We highlighted the major concerns shared across our businesses, and as is prevalent throughout the country, those concerns centred on higher running costs, lack of quality/availability of staff, and anticipated lower footfall.
As a group, despite these many challenges, we believe that we are better placed than some business communities because of incoming international and UK day visitors, which it is anticipated will provide some cushion to our businesses through the winter months.
However, it was recognised that there is an opportunity to engage more fully with the local population, some of whom give the village a wide berth in the summer months, and now, with the cost of living issues, may be further delaying their interaction with local businesses.
It was felt that a collective marketing initiative would benefit us all, and it was suggested that a small working group be convened to discuss idea for a village promotion aimed at local residents, possibly utilising the Royal Mail services which could be targeted specifically at 6,000 or so GL54 postcode addresses. It was also suggested that the Bourtoninfo website could be utilised better, and help with improving this would be beneficial.
If you would like to be involved in this working group, could you email me by Monday 12th December, and we’ll convene a discussion group shortly thereafter.
If anyone has any ideas on marketing initiatives, again please email me, even if you don’t wish to be involved in a working group. All suggestions welcome.
Next Meeting
The agenda for our next full meeting is as follows.
09:00-10:00
The Old New Inn
1. A Community Energy Project – Mike McKeown
We all know the challenge with the escalating costs of our energy bills in our businesses and homes, and the knock on effect that has on many of the customer numbers for local businesses where customers can no longer afford to spend in the way they were doing previously.
Come and hear how one enterprising community are doing something about it. Our guest speaker is Mike McKeown from Thames Head Energy, a community energy social enterprise based near the source of the River Thames. (Covering Somerford Keynes, Shorncote, the Lower Mill Estate, Kemble and Ewen.) The two core goals of the initiative are to help the community as a whole and individuals; Reduce energy costs and Reduce CO2 emissions, ultimately achieving NetZero.
2. Bourton-on-the-Water Community Loyalty Card.
3. Marketing Bourton-on-the-Water – Working Group Update.
4. Community Milk Vending – Working Group Update.
5. Coach Parking – Update.
If we don’t see you beforehand, we wish you a happy and healthy festive season and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!