Water Monitoring Day – wouldn’t it be good with all that water we get flooded by in Garforth every year be monitored and used better – just a costly thought on today’s national day!
A busy week, with new customers, new insights and evening meetings
I look forward to receiving information from Kip McGrath and Mia’s Nail & beauty salon who will be our new members added on next week.
Unfortunately, Holiday Inn were not up for putting all my fun marketing cards in each room for guests to see more of the place they are staying in exchange for advertising events at holiday inn to which locals could attend! Anyway, they still seem keen to work with local business and local produce – so we’ll see what happens over the next few weeks with this, I hope they walk the talk!
Word on the Street
Tuesday‘s meeting was Garforth Christmas committee meeting – which is a whole host of people, from Traders to Councillors, Leeds City Council, Community and Garforth Lions. Lots of new things happening this year such as a Christmas Market organised by the lovely Debbie at Angels and Butterflies, a clown act on the street, Ronnie the Rhino, a local radio station and some sporting celebrities – I hear names like Josh Warrington being branded about!
Wednesday’s meeting was Garforth Traders meeting discussing proposed planning and events.
Fiveraffle will be brought back this year and yes, we will be offering 1 massive prize for 1 lucky winner, it has been mentioned by a few about doing 3 prizes, but as you all know by now, I’m not one for doing things ‘we’ve always done it that way’ and as I’ve had experience in doing this before, I know it works; we raised a great amount in less than 4 weeks last year. Like last year, we will be encouraging you to give your town a HIGH FIVE, 5 tickets for 5 pounds, but you can buy 1 ticket if you wish. All proceeds go into a pot which goes back into the Street.
We have been looking at extra Christmas decorations this year, our initial thought was Christmas trees and brackets for each shop, only 19 shops were interested and each shop was being quoted at about £250 for the initial set up!…. far too expensive for the money we had to spend, even traders putting extra money in. If you know of an electrician or you are an electrician who can do this for free… send him my way!
We will be looking at working with the council next year to perhaps bring some new motifs sponsored by the trader’s #workinprogress
However we will see some of the money spent on shop window decorations this year, so all is not lost and hopefully this will make Main Street sparkle a little bit more along with their competition window displays.
We will be drawing the Fiveraffle on Stage on the Christmas Lights night – Saturday 28th November
Thursday’s meeting – was all about planners, engineers and architects from Sainsbury’s coming to talk to us about the proposal ideas and plans for a Netto Store – see here what was said by Councillor Mark Dobson https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1067480443263791&id=126980367313808
PAINT MY LINES – FAIRBURN DRIVE
As previously mentioned in blogs gone by, I have been trying to get painted lines and parking restrictions on Fairburn Drive for the parade of shops, in order people can stop and shop more safely. The council had no money to knock down the wall and put in bigger, better spaces on an angle which was initially suggested, so we asked for painted parking spaces so the area could be managed better along with the lovely Chris from the veg shop who has filled in the holes in and around the side and cleared the area at the back so all shop staff can park so they’re not taking up the much needed spaces at the front, hence also, the restriction for parking as shops were also finding people at seasonal times parking and then getting a bus into town! It’s been a somewhat frustrating project as we’re now 17 months in and no man with a white paint brush has been scheduled to come and paint the area as requested…. after several contacts made to the big honcho of highways and the pokes from Mark Dobson, we’re still waiting for a date…… You may see me cartwheel along the wall when it’s completed. Getting people to be able to #shoplocal is sometimes really hard!
The plans for flats on Green Lane, near East Garforth the train station has gone from 9 to 8, maybe that swinging cat complained about the possible space!
It has been nice to hear Mumbai Kitchen has had great reviews since its opening on the 14th September and it’s nice to see some great tweets and posts about them too – maybe a Main Deal member soon!
Great to see the Garforth Community Choir has reached the Art Live Programme and gone out to schools this week – we’re now at 22… All being well, we should be starting at the end this month….. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734083406819196/ – come and see, and join in this great local project
Garforth Catering who are connected with Garforth Town Football Club came to me this week and asked about using local produce – they are now using Firth’s Butchers for their pork pie offering and fresh fruit from Chris’ Fruit and Veg for all their players – cross marketing and local using local always puts a smile on my face
Garforth Hour Live event is being held at The Gaping Goose next Tuesday, 22nd September from 8pm #porkpie and a #pint whilst tweeting with local businesses, what more could you ask for? Sign up if you’re a business in Garforth or nearby. http://www.themaindeal.co.uk/garforth-hour.html
Tonight I have ‘usher’ training – don’t ask!
Facebook has been busy this week with a weekly reach of 2,630. This week’s website stats are 36,270 hits since January ( I need to start thinking about doing something exciting for my first year in business) – any suggestions what one can do?
BUY LOCAL OR IT’S BYE LOCAL…………..
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