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Girl Power going strong in Blackwood
A group of female business owners in Blackwood town centre have a novel approach to supporting each other – which we thought we’d share today on International Women’s Day. The businesses – Kismet, Preachers Wine Bar, Pier Fish Bar and Little House of Beauty – are using their close proximity to each other at The Pier building in Hall Street to work collaboratively, by offering complementary vouchers which offer customers incentives to use all the businesses located in The Pier building. Sue Jenkins, owner of Kismet said: It’s nice that as female entrepreneurs, we’re all able to work together to support each other’s businesses, and we hope our success empowers others to think about taking the step to start up their own business. Being in business on your own can be lonely on occasions, so the support the girls and I offer each other is fantastic.
Familiar Name Returns to Bargoed
The Ty Marisa Café in Bargoed is reverting to its original name Rossi Café. The café was established by Joe & Irene Rossi in 1961 and is part of the long tradition of Italian cafes’ in the South Wales Valleys. When it opened Rossi Café was situated in High Street, later the café relocated to another High Street property and was renamed Ty Marisa after the couple’s daughter. Today, Marisa runs the business with her mother Irene. Marisa Rossi said: “It was the right time to revert back to calling ourselves Rossi Café as local people still know us as ‘Rossi’s’. I am delighted with our new signage which captures the heritage of the business my parents started.”
Digital Memory Books Introduced
The council’s Town Centre Management Team has produced a ‘Digital Memory Book‘ as part of the successful ‘Choose the High Street‘ Past & Present initiative. The digital resource was unveiled at the Visitor Centre in Caerphilly town centre, each book contains historic photos of Caerphilly, Blackwood, Bargoed, Risca and Ystrad Mynach town centres taken from the council’s Winding House Museum. The Digital Memory Books will be used by local groups supporting people who are living with dementia and are the first part of a new initiative to promote town centres as ‘Dementia Friendly’ places. Ian Thomas – Dementia Friendly Community Coordinator said: “The Digital Memory Books are a fantastic resource which will really help to engage with people living with dementia; I’m delighted to work with the council’s Town Centre Management team in developing this initiative.”
Blackwood Business Keeping People Connected
A retailer in Blackwood town centre has turned his hobby into a successful business. Warren Ashton realised his knack for fixing electronic devices could be a new business opportunity so he started ‘Fix it Up’ in the smallest shop on Blackwood High Street. Soon the business grew and relocated to a larger shop in Hall Street. ‘Fix it Up’ now not only repairs and refurbishes mobile phones and tablets, it also buys and sells them. Warren Ashton said: “I am a good example of someone who saw a gap in the market and turned their hobby into a business. When you manage to fix someone’s broken phone you help them stay connected to their world and that’s the most important thing we do” If you would like to talk to someone about opportunities to start a business in one of the County Borough’s town centres please contact Town Centre Management retail@caerphilly.gov.uk 01443 866213 / 01443 86693.
X-Forces are Launching a Start-up Grant Scheme For Ex-Forces in Wales
X-Forces have developed a ex-forces and their families to assist with the journey to successful business ownership. HELPING YOU BE THE BEST IN BUSINESS We support ex-forces and their families to start up businesses by providing them with Loans, Mentoring and Support SERVICE LEAVERS : VETERANS : RESERVISTS : SPOUSES : FAMILY : CADETS Check out their website for more info: http://www.x-forces.com/your-business/exforces-business
Social Enterprise interest free loan from £10,000 to £30,000 – closes 29th of March 2016
Are you a Social Enterprise looking for an interest free loan from £10,000 to £30,000 coupled with access to a business mentor. SE Assist aims to leverage resources and support from big businesses to help Welsh Social Enterprises to grow and thrive. The closing date is the 29th of March 2016. For more information click on the link below to the Wales Co-op http://wales.coop/se-assist/
Fashion Retailer Makes a Big Impression
An independent ladies fashion retailer in Bargoed town centre has just celebrated its 25th anniversary. Impressions ladies fashions, which is run by mother and daughter Gloria and Nicola Kelk, is famed for its eye-catching window displays which brighten up shoppers days. Impressions was originally relocated at 38 Hanbury Road before it moved to its current shop opposite the new library. Gloria Kelk says: “We would like to thank all of our customers both past and present. I believe that independent retailers still have a place on our high streets as we offer great service and customers really appreciate us. The important thing is for people to still support local businesses”
Businesses looking to reduce waste and maximise recycling?
Free workshop to help businesses reduce costs Calculate the value of your waste, and develop a tailored action plan to help you prevent waste, and cut costs. You’re invited to join Caerphilly County Borough Councils Economic Development Team, and resource efficiency experts WRAP Cymru for a free 90 minute workshop specifically designed to help businesses reduce the amount of raw materials used, minimise waste and maximise recycling. Through structured presentation, exercises, and case study examples you’ll learn what simple measures you can adopt to reduce your resource use and develop a plan which you can take back to your business to implement. You’ll also have the opportunity to talk about your business’ needs with a WRAP Cymru Client Manager and learn more about additional support available through the Welsh Government’s Resource Efficient Wales service. The workshop will take place on Thursday 25th February 2016, at Tredomen Business & Technology Centre at 8:30am for registration and 9:00am start. Any Caerphilly County Borough business can register to attend, although places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Please email business@caerphilly.gov.uk to book your place. If you are unable to join us, you can access WRAP Cymru’s resource efficiency self-assessment tool at www.wrapcymru.org.uk/REW-self-assessment-tool or contact Lucy Shields on 07583 104116 to discuss your business’ needs.
Pets Find a New Home in Blackwood
National retailer Pets at Home is expanding its Blackwood town centre store which is located next to ASDA. The retailer has taken additional space next to its existing store in the unit formally occupied by Blockbuster. The new store will incorporate Vets4Pets and ‘The Groom Room’ and is scheduled to open on 18th March. The store remains open whilst the works are undertaken. Assistant Manager Jane Hamar says: “We are all really excited about our shop extension which enables us to offer an in-store vet and a grooming service in addition to Pets at Home’s huge range of products. Our aim is to bring the people of Blackwood the ultimate pet shop”