CHAMBER OF TRADE ANNUAL REVIEW

This year has been a busy one for the Broadstone Chamber of Trade and Commerce and for the Business Community in Broadstone as a whole.

Most obviously, we have seen the completion of Manor House by Harry J Palmer, and anticipate the new occupants, as they are potential customers for us all. But there have been many other changes within the retail area, businesses changing hands, moving and several completely new businesses to welcome, including Active Aid, Great Wall Chinese Takeaway, Balloons on Broadway and Wright's Estate Agents.

We must remember that this is a time of intense competition for our shops and other businesses, with Castlepoint, and more recently the new Asda superstore, and the support of local residents is vital in keeping the lifeblood of Broadstone. No-one likes to see empty shops and boarded windows, but we must all consider if we have given enough support and custom to our retailers.

On the other hand, we have to look inward and consider, are we offering what our residents want or need. If we do not change our sales processes, stock or customer service levels we will drive our customers to these retail outlets we so fear!

That's where you come in. We would like you to write to us with your suggestions and also to nominate shops and businesses in Broadstone for our Quarterly Customer Service Award. This can be an individual or the general service within a business or company and will be rewarded with a trophy for them to display for the next three months.

This is not limited to retailers, but includes all types of business and services operating within the Broadstone area.

This year has also seen the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act, and we have been working hard to ensure all businesses are aware of their responsibilities to those members of the community whose needs may differ, be it with their mobility, vision, hearing or other impairment. Over the next few weeks we hope you will notice the changes being made to make life easier for all.

We have also held seminars on the Budget and Taxation, Planning Issues and Parking, with this last subject causing the most heated debate. May I remind residents that a Parking Refund Scheme exists in Broadstone, simply spend £10 in a shop displaying the poster and on production of a special part of your parking ticket they will refund you! We have been approaching retailers over the past few weeks with this marketing material so you should find it far easier to use this scheme.

Please remember that the toast rack is for 1/2 hour parking only, and that by blocking the entrance and the pavement you are creating hazards, particularly for pedestrians but also for cyclists and other motorists. I have seen and been a party to several instances of Road Rage in the toastrack, but it could all so easily be avoided if we used the two large car parks we have!

We hope 2005 will see a busy time for all businesses in the Broadstone catchment and hope that the Chamber of Trade will continue to be their voice in the community and help to change things for the better. Please keep supporting Broadstone and to forward your suggestions for the retail area or nominate for the customer service awards, or indeed to join the Chamber please contact me at the address below.

Vikki Slade, Chairperson. c/o Mollys Catering Services Ltd, 223 Lower Blandford Rd, Broadstone BH18 8DN. Tel/fax 01202 269375. email: vsladetrade@aol.com

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