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Small Business Saturday returns on December 3rd 2016
Small Business Saturday returns on Saturday December 3rd and the Council’s Town Centre Management team are asking people to show their support for independent retailers in the County Borough’s town centres. Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year with the aim of having a lasting impact on small businesses. Within the County Borough people can show their support in a number of different ways. The Council has once again produced a ‘Choose the High Street’ Christmas Voucher Booklet which this year contains 112 offers from local retailers. The offers give shoppers an added incentive to venture into their town centres in the lead up to Christmas and especially on Small Business Saturday. The booklets are free and available at the following locations: Blackwood – ASDA, Maxime Cinema, Tidal Stores, Chinkles, Blackwood Miners Institute and the library Caerphilly – Morrisons, Weatherspoon’s ‘The Malcom Uphill’, Visitor Centre and the library Bargoed – Morrisons, Poundworld and the library Risca – Tesco and the library Ystrad Mynach – Tesco and the library Throughout the year the ‘Choose the High Street’ Stories initiative has being telling the story of the people behind the shop fascia. You can read over 60 different stories featuring retailers in town centres across the County Borough by following the link to the GO 2 My Town web site. View ‘Choose The High Street’ Stories List In the…
Exclusive Family Business – Exclusive Tiles & Bathrooms
After 30 years working for himself, tiling walls and floors, John Phillips decided it was time to start a new family business with his son Luke called Exclusive Tiles & Bathrooms. The business, which was originally based in Aberbargoed, has just opened a new showroom in Blackwood town centre on High Street at the junction of Pentwyn Road. Exclusive Tiles & Bathrooms sells a range of bathroom suites as well tiles and is very much a family business. Whilst John as the Director retains a hands on role tiling walls and floors for customers across the County Borough, Luke works as the business manager in the showroom. Luke said: Blackwood is the busiest high street in the area so it made sense to open our new show here. Our aim is to offer our customers a first class service with the personal touch we offer as a family business
Blackwood Is Back In Fashion
This Christmas Blackwood town centre is laying claim to being the fashion capital of the South East Valleys. In recent weeks, no less than three new independent clothing retailers have opened their doors in the town, which has one of the widest in high streets in the valleys. The new retailers Rebel, Profile and Betty’s Boutique sell a range of fashion clothing catering for both men and women and join other independent fashion retailers Miss Label, Parisa and ASA who are already in Blackwood. In addition to these independent fashion shops, the town also boosts an array of multiple clothing retailers: New Look, Select, Bonmarche, Peacocks and Dorothy Perkins. Any retailers looking for space in the town can view our Property Directory which lists every shop for sale or rent in each of the five managed town centres including Blackwood Properties. If you would like an informal discussion about retailer opportunities in Blackwood please contact Town Centre Management: 01443 866213 / 01443 866393 – retail@caerphilly.gov.uk
Christmas high street campaign is back!
Shoppers on Caerphilly county borough’s high streets are in for a real festive treat once again this year, as the council’s Town Centre Management Team joins forces with local retailers to unveil their ever-popular voucher booklet, featuring over 110 in-store discounts and offers. Back for 2016, the voucher booklet this Christmas promises to be the biggest and best yet, with a total of 112 offers from retailers in Bargoed, Blackwood, Caerphilly, Risca and Ystrad Mynach. Download Voucher Booklet (Pupils from Risca Primary School) The council’s well-established ‘Choose the High Street‘ campaign focuses on raising awareness of consumer choice, and aims to encourage people to support their local high streets more often – particularly during in the pre-Christmas trading period which is crucial to businesses. It also highlights the diverse retail offer contained in our town centres. (Pupils from Ty Sign Primary School) Cllr Ken James was joined by pupils from Risca Primary School and Ty Sign Primary School visit with Santa himself to launch the scheme at Risca library recently. (Pupils from Risca Primary School) Cllr James said: The Choose the High Street campaign is all about encouraging people to support their local retailers, and this festive voucher booklet is a great incentive for shoppers to support local businesses and take advantage of some excellent money-saving deals in the run up to Christmas. The deals in the booklet are also a great opportunity for local businesses to showcase themselves and the diversity and range of products on offer on our high streets. The booklets can be picked up from: Bargoed – Morrisons, Poundworld, Library…
Ghostly Goings-on in Llancaiach Fawr Manor
Creeks and squeaks, thumps and bumps… these were some of the sounds heard when the Working Women’s Network visited Llancaiach Fawr last week. A group of 15 ladies embarked on a ‘fright night’ network meeting at one of Wales’s most haunted houses. Equipped with torches and EMF (electromagnetic field strength) meters the group enjoyed an hour of fear in the dark 16th century manor house. Two of the Llancaiach Fawr staff members, Louise and Sarah told tales of ghostly sightings and experiences as the group travelled from room to haunted room. The EMF meters were especially active during the tour which could indicate that the ladies were not alone! After the tour, Llancaiach Fawr’s General Manager, Diane Walker gave a fascinating talk on her experiences being a female manager in a mans world and the ups and downs of running an all female management team at Llancaiach Fawr. Details of the Ghost tours can found at http://your.caerphilly.gov.uk/llancaiachfawr/events/ghost-tour-options The Working Women’s Network is fun way to meet like minded people if you are an employer or an employee for more information on the Working Women’s Network Call Sharon Peters on 01443 866397 or email peters@caerphilly.gov.uk
New venture begins thanks to council grant – soft play centre in Blackwood
A new soft play centre in Pengam, Blackwood has opened its doors thanks to the Caerphilly council and UK Steel Enterprise, start-up business grant. The start-up business grant offers up to £500 to help residents, who may not be able to access other funding, to set up their first, full time business enabling it to grow and develop. Cerys Mayne, Owner of Tumble Jaks said: I became inspired for personal reasons to open a soft play centre where adults and their children can come and enjoy. The grant and the support from Caerphilly council were amazing. The girls I spoke to were so helpful and without the grant I would not have been able to afford to buy much of the kitchen equipment. Tumble Jaks opened on Wednesday 14th September and has received great success ever since. With opening day reaching full capacity, the centre continues to prove its popularity even during off peak times. Cerys used Facebook to advertise and promote her business and was blown away by the amount of support. Using Facebook to promote the business was a great success. So much so, I have decided to advertise my events on there. The Halloween Disco has already been sold out because of social media and through word of mouth. I hope to do the same with my Santa’s Grotto for Christmas event. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Sustainable Development said: It is great to see the positive impact the start-up grant has made to Cerys and her new venture. This is the very…
Start-up grant gives new Caerphilly business a boost
A new business in Caerphilly county borough has recently received start-up support thanks to Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise. Specialist recruitment business Profession Direct Ltd has been awarded a start-up grant, as well as business support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise, allowing the new business to purchase IT equipment and marketing materials. Profession Direct Ltd is a specialist recruitment business which offers recruitment, training and consultancy services. Simon Hughes, Managing Director of Profession Direct said: Profession Direct Ltd was formed out of the wish to capitalise on the demand for professional recruitment services in the specialist professions of financial services, medical, education, legal and estate agents, as well as utilities and energy. Thank you to Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise for the start-up support that they have provided, which has given our new business a firm foundation to build on. Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said: I am thrilled that Caerphilly County Borough Council has been able to assist in the start-up of yet another business within Caerphilly county borough. The grant and support received by Profession Direct Ltd from Caerphilly County Borough Council and UK Steel Enterprise will enable the new business to grow to its full potential. The business start-up grant enables residents of Caerphilly county borough who are not able to access any other source of funding, to set up a full-time business for the first time. The funding is a discretionary grant and can provide up to 50% of eligible…
New Ladies Boutique Opens
A new ladies boutique has opened on Blackwood High Street directly opposite the Maxime Cinema. So whilst the boys can enjoy watching a film in the cinema, the girls can shop in Betty’s Boutique which is the latest addition to Blackwood’s growing list of fashion retailers. The boutique is run by mother and daughter Nicola & Molly Page and is named after Nicola‘s mother. Nicola has been in business for over 30 years, previously running Creative Homes and Bojangles Boutique. Molly is in her second year in University in Cardiff studying for a fashion degree. Nicola said: At Betty’s Boutique we offer the latest ladies fashions as well as classic styles to suit all ages from 17 to 87! With our wide range of clothes, bags, shoes, jewellery and gifts we’ve got something for everyone. Molly said: My degree work keeps me up to date with the latest trends in the fashion industry and it’s great to use that knowledge to help choose the designs that we stock.
Get registering if you’re a grower, maker, brewer or baker of tasty produce!
Once again Cwm a Mynydd and the South Wales Rural Development Programme Teams, Cywain and Farmers’ Union of Wales invite you to a Workshop and networking event to be held on 18th October at Cowbridge and 19th October in Abergavenny. The event will focus on marketing and branding, with a talk and discussion led by Tessa Stuart, best selling author of ‘Packed – The Food Entrepreneur’s Guide: How to Get Noticed and How to Be Loved’ and ‘Flying Off the Shelves: The Food Entrepreneur’s Guide to Selling’. The Abergavenny event will also feature the Abergavenny Food Festival Team talking about ‘How to get in, in 2017’ and Robb Merchant from Whitecastle Vinyard providing insights from their producer business. BakedByMel will be talking about her business, product and experiences at the Cowbridge event. Both events will feature a number of social media workshops that are optional and of course space for networking. Please sign up here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/FWZFYWN Original Article