New Year News January 2011 Stowmarket Breakfast Meeting

A lively breakfast with 29 attendees at the first meeting of the New Year produced some memorable presentations.

Top prize has to be window cleaner (8CW) Simon Burton’s economical and crafty household tip for that tedious chore of cleaning windows – white vinegar and newspaper to ensure clean, smear-free windows. Economical, because white vinegar is a lot cheaper than proprietary glass cleaning products and more effective, as our grannies knew and we’ve forgotten! Crafty, because when we’re done we can see how dirty the outside of the glass is – so, of course, we have to call in Simon and his team!

The mental picture of Jonathan Steed (of Gipping Press) in a leotard was another memorable moment, as was his point about getting business print marketing materials fit and improved.

Dave Baker (of Charting Success) told us he has a new website and Kate Kelly, of Saffron Consulting, is launching a new small business service to be called The Business Plumber.

Acupuncturist Annya Stoddart is also re-focusing her business on pain relief, having discovered that 80% of the people who come to her are seeking relief from painful conditions.

Exciting times among our regulars despite the relentlessly gloomy predictions on the media business pages about the uphill slog that will be 2011.

Shelli Moyes (of MPM Computer Consultancy) had a timely warning about bogus callers presenting themselves as IT specialists who can fix the problem they have identified with your computer. The tactic is to phone early in the morning and get people to switch on their computers, then load things into the computer and charge for their removal.  She has had four reports of these calls already – one to someone who didn’t even have a computer.  Her advice is to tell any such caller that you don’t have a computer! Certainly bogus calls are something to be aware of in the current economic climate.

And speaking of uphill slogs, Tim Meadows-Smith (K2 Business Rescue) explained his company’s name – K2 is one of the toughest mountains to climb in the world and successful climbers are those who use an experienced Sherpa to guide them. Tim’s company are Sherpas for business.

All of which illustrates the point that putting some thought into a 60-second presentation and, if possible, making people laugh will pay dividends in making you memorable.

On Peter’s theme of member collaboration, perhaps some members could consider sharing their expertise with others to help them sharpen their presentations?  What does everyone think about a workshop after breakfast one morning?

Special thanks to Celine for the usual splendid breakfast.

Chris Storey has reservations about the proposed district councils’ merger

In the interests of fair play and balance, Stowmarket Chamber Chairman Peter Down, who is generally in favour of the proposed merger between Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, invited Chris Storey to present an opposing view.

As chairman of Sudbury’s Chamber Chris reported on the reservations some of his members have about the proposed merger, coming as it does at the same time as the replacement of EEDA by Local Enterprise Partnerships, the uncertain future of Business Link and the almost-daily revelations in the media about proposed cuts at Suffolk County Council.

Consultation is a major issue in Chris’ view, for us both as residents and as businesses. He said that Babergh had not liaised to any degree with its local businesses and that had raised serious doubts about whether they will get the merger right.

One major issue highlighted by Sudbury businesses, he said, was parking charges and asked if as a result of the merger budgets in Mid Suffolk turned out to be overstretched, what would be the consequences for businesses in their towns.

He suggested that it was crucial for a structure to be put in place before the merger went through, otherwise businesses should consider opposing the plan.

Chairman’s Bees and news

Peter’s main Bee has been encouraging members to collaborate and trade with each other and he said he was encouraged by how much of this was already happening.

One illustration of this has been Nigel George’s involvement in drawing up the legal documents needed, which has now been achieved and the Town Centre Partnership will be launched officially in late March.

The Chairman said he often explains to prospective members that belonging to the Stowmarket Chamber gives them a voice at the table at which important decisions for the future of our area are made, in addition to the commercial benefits of membership of the bigger County Chamber.

There are a number of things happening in the town on which he had updates:

Costa Coffee has started fitting out the former MotoSpares unit near Asda and the bid for £500,000 for the Townscape heritage Initiative had been acknowledged by Mid Suffolk DC.

The shopfront refurbishment has suffered a setback after the bid for £60,000 to English Heritage became a casualty of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

However, £70,000 has been received and work started on the Town Centre Improvement scheme, while the Museum has also started a major refurbishment of the Queen Anne building Abbotts Hall, using local company Vinci Contractors, formerly Haymills. There may be an opportunity for the Chamber to sponsor a room.

Negotiations on the redevelopment of Ipswich Street are progressing, though much is still commercially confidential and the archaeological survey at Seamans yard has begun as part of Morrisons’ plan to build there.

June 1 will see a Made in Stowmarket exhibition at the John Peel Centre – an opportunity for Chamber members to publicise their services.

Don’t miss the AGM

Don’t forget the AGM at Igneous, Maitland Road, Lion Barn Estate, Needham Market on February 9, starting at 6pm.

Come along and have your say on the future direction of Stowmarket Chamber

Dates for your diary

Breakfast meetings coming. Venues vary so make sure you turn up at the right place:

February 18 Rugby Club

March 18  Rugby Club

April 15  Golf Club

May 20  Golf Club

June 17 Rugby Club

July 15 Golf Club

Next Meeting:

February 18  7am at the Rugby Club

phone: 01449 770965

e-mail: mailto:secretary@stowmarket chamber.org.uk

web : http://www.stowmarket chamber.org.uk