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Following the 2014 late night shopping feedback from you, we are going ahead with the “free after 4pm” parking in the pay and display car parks every Thursday (27th November and 3rd, 10th, 17th December).
We are going to lead with a “free parking, late night shopping” theme with our marketing this year as the footfall in the town on those Thursday evenings last year definitely spiked (see graph). I realise not all of you want to stay open late due to extra overhead costs, but if you are going to stay open later on a Thursday before Christmas, do let us know. We’ll make sure we highlight you in our Christmas opening on the website and through social media.
And by the way, the High Street is due to be closed to traffic until 7pm on those Thursdays too
Thanks all
Amanda
This year, the Christmas Lights Switch on will be on Thursday 19th November. Due to the success of last year’s edition, we will be producing another Little Book of Offers this year – with information being circulated within weeks of this newsletter going to print so get thinking about which offer will make you get the most of the increased footfall brought by the festive pound!
We will also be repeating the free parking on Thursday evenings from Thursday 26th from 4pm in Pay and Display car parks right up until Christmas to encourage shoppers in to Guildford.
Free networking events for businesses
Customer
Service
Awards shortlist
announced
Christmas 2015 Information for businesses
September October
Customer ServiceAwards
Note from the GM
The Little Book of Offers
The Customer Service Awards will be returning in a bigger and better format than ever before. We will be working in partnership with the Surrey Advertiser to celebrate the outstanding performance of town centre businesses and the customer service you provide.
The public vote has now closed and we are pleased to announce that our finalists are:
The results will be announced at the awards ceremony at G Live on 12th October 2015
Photo credit: Amy Robinson Photography
AGMOur second AGM will take place 19th October at 6pm at The Guildhall. Your business will receive an invitation to come along.
Please email Amanda Masters on [email protected] for more information.
Want to know about Christmas opening hours? We will list as much information on our website as possible. Email your Christmas opening hours to [email protected]
Dates for your diary3 October The Big Draw Launch
6 October Farmers Market6 October Engage Guildford Networking
12 October Customer Service Awards 11 – 18 October Guildford Book Festival
19 October Annual General Meeting19 November Christmas Light Switch on
26 November Free Parking after 4pm3rd December Free Parking after 4pm
10th December Free Parking after 4pm17th December Free Parking after 4pm
12 January Engage Guildford Networking
Did you Know?The Experience Guildford website has a job vacancy board. Listing any vacancy for your business is free! To have your job vacancy displayed, please email us on [email protected].
Pubs, bars and clubs All Bar One, The Star, Wetherspoons
Coffee shops Coffee Culture, Glutton & Glee/Kalm Kitchen, Harris & Hoole
Restaurants Cau, Cote, Olivo
Health and beauty Champneys, Koko Hair, Toni & Guy
Leisure and lifestyle G Live, Odeon, Yvonne Arnaud
Service provider Guildford Library, The Friary Centre, Town Rangers
Professional services HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Skipton Building Society
Retail National small (20 staff or less) C&H Fabric, Mint Velvet, Vapouriz
Retail National large (20 staff and over) House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, Waterstones
Retail independent Ben’s Collectors Records, Food For Thought, The Bear Garden
Thank you to all that took part in our celebration of independent businesses throughout July 2015.
Customers were encouraged to pick up maps which would be stamped by businesses each time they made a purchase. These were returned to Experience Guildford where ten lucky winners will be selected at random to win £100 each to spend in Guildford.
Spades of FunRichard Fisher
The geographical location for most beaches is usually quite predictable, but Experience Guildford changed that when we held our Urban Beach initiative in the town centre at the Electric Theatre last weekend. In true British summer style the golden sand, colourfully dotted with buckets and spades, was overshadowed by some heavy looking clouds. We needn’t have worried as families flocked to our attraction regardless, and soon there were many happy children enjoying the novelty of building sandcastles in town, and many parents delighted at seeing their young ones experiencing one of life’s simple pleasures.
Free candy floss, face-painting, live performances and DJ sets from ACM students, the biggest deck-chair we’ve ever seen, and some wonderful volunteers made the three day event a storming success. The sun even visited to see what the fuss was about and made the welcome decision to stay with us for the majority of the weekend. The feedback we’ve received has been very positive and we are proud to have made so many families happy. We look forward to putting on this event again next year, with even more surprises.
Independents’ Celebrations
We had a great response from our local independent businesses and our top five businesses visited were
• Bens Collectors Records
• Food For Thought
• Fresh Choices
• The Keep
• Biddles of Guildford
Experience Guildford has teamed up with the Guildford Dragon online newspaper to offer new businesses editorial and advertising in The
Guildford Dragon “Shop Front” section. We will ask you a few questions about your business and the answers will be sent back to Guildford Dragon.
Experience Guildford will pay for an inner page advert as well as the article itself. All you need to do is ask!
Now returning for its third year, we are calling on Guildford’s pubs, bars and clubs to sign up to the ‘Best Bar None’ scheme which is designed to promote, enhance and reward good practice of licenced venues by volunteering their businesses to be independently examined by trained assessors.
National standards set by best bar none and supported by the Home Office and Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) must be met in order for the award to be granted to each venue. Businesses are assessed on criteria such as their management of alcohol related crime and disorder, public safety, levels of staff awareness and training and the controlled sale
of alcohol. Assessment will be carried out by trained, impartial individuals who have clear criteria of what is required and will also be able to provide support and constructive feedback to participating venues.
The scheme has proven that businesses achieving the award have fewer alcohol related issues, and a safer and more enjoyable customer experience. If you are interested please email [email protected]
Recently we have seen a rise in businesses wanting to voluntarily join the Experience Guildford family. Although there is a designated zone for BID members, those that are on the outside, or come under the threshold for levy payment are able to join up for an annual fee. This year we are pleased to announce that the following businesses have joined up
Chesca have moved to 5 Market Street
Tiny Tangles have moved to 12 Jeffries Passage
Harvey Jones Kitchens will be moving to 9 Tunsgate (just across the road from where they are currently located) and opening late September
Ikon Menswear will be moving to 10 Tunsgate and opening early September
Tanning Shop will be moving to 181 High street and opening mid September
Babylon will be moving to 18 & 19 White Lion Walk and opening early September
• A3 Cars
• E Owen & Son Carpet
Guildford On Sea
Best Bar None
In Town
Relocated
Free press coverage
New businesses
Zara - The Friary Centre
Fresco - Friary Street
Alley Bar & Tudor Antiques - Milkhouse Gate
Le Creuset - High Street
for NEW businesses
to join the BID
Speak to a member of the Experience Guildford team to find out more.Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01483 452 163
Or speak to a Town Ranger
• Orlando Jewellers
• The Boileroom
CONTACT DETAILS Do we have your up to date contact details?
If your opening hours, telephone number, email, website or logo has changed please let us know – [email protected] or 01483 452 163.
Privilege Card
Engage Guildford
The Experience Guildford Privilege Card is an exclusive discount card available to you to use. Over 50 businesses take part with special promotions and offers. If you do not already own a Privilege Card, why not?
You can pick one up in Guildford town centre from Hotel Chocolat, Hotter Shoes and Sia Beauty - and get 10% off purchases at the same time! Or send a stamped addressed envelope to 16a Tunsgate, Stevenson House, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3QT.
• 10% off at Silverado• 10% off at Timberland North Face• 10% off at Rohan • 20% off all food and drink from 5pm on Fridays at The Weyside
…To name a few! visit www.experienceguildford.com.privilege-card for a full list of offers
NETWORKING CLUB
The Engage Guildford Networking Club offers the ideal opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with fellow BID members, hear the latest news and opportunities from the town and the Experience Guildford team and offer your suggestions to keep Guildford in the spotlight.
The next Engage Guildford Networking Club will take place on Tuesday 6 October at The Odeon Cinema from 8am to 9.30am. Free to attend and with complimentary refreshments it will focus on the key issues and ideals important to all BID members.
Further Engage Guildford Networking Clubs are scheduled for: 12 Jan 2016 at The GuildhallFor more information on attending the Engage Guildford Networking Club visit www.experienceguildford.com If you would like to host an Engage Guildford Networking Club email [email protected]
Experiencegford
Experiencegford
Experiencegford
