Lorraine Harrison

January 2007

Sat 13th Jan

So, here we are in 2007 — I wonder what this year has in store for us. Obviously, our very delayed AGM is nigh on the 15 February and I am hopeful that we will have a decent attendance for that.

Most of last year was spent, from my point of view, in building the profile of the NCCT, including the launch of the new name and corporate image and, of course, the website. Sad to say that, despite my constant subtle hinting, nothing like as many of you have taken advantage of the free entry onto the business directory as I would have hoped. The current membership of the NCCT is in excess of 200, and yet only about 10 companies are registered on the business directory.

Hows about making a new year’s resolution, albeit a little late, that you will put the details of your business on the directory and start to reap the same benefits that those companies already there are enjoying. Extra business, even if it’s only one new client, has got to be better than missing that client altogether.

I have to admit, and I’m not in the business of pulling the wool over anybody’s eyes, that, if all goes well with the business directory, we will eventually be making a charge to have an entry; however, that charge is not likely to be more than £20.00 or £30.00. Not a great deal of money if you are marketing your business to 200 other businesses is it?

At the AGM, you will have an opportunity to make a difference to your trade association, either by comment and suggestion, or by actually joining the executive yourself. At the moment, we have scant representation from the hotels and guest house sector and far more from the professional sector. We need an across the board representation of businesses in the town and that means shop-keepers, large hotels, small hotels, guest houses, accountants, dentists and whatever other kind of business is out there. Electricians, Plumbers, Kitchen Fitters, Handy Men, Man and Van!!! We are YOUR trade association and if you like what we’re doing, that’s great — come along and give us a hand. If you don’t like what we’re doing, now’s your chance to make a difference.

I am extremely pleased to have been given the opportunity, by both our local newspapers, to write a column on a fortnightly basis, i.e. one week in one and the other week in the other. This is wonderful news because, hopefully, it is the opportunity to bring the news and views of the NCCT to, not only the business community, but also to the rest of Newquay as a whole.

This is yet another thing with which we could really do with some help. My personal position at the moment is that I have an extremely busy business of which I am a joint director with my husband. I am also the current incumbent of the Chair of the NCCT and, under that auspices, attend numerous meetings every month, write numerous letters for and on behalf of you all as necessary and now, I am in the position of having to write four “interesting” pieces for the newspapers, my report for the newsletter (of which this is one of course) and a report for the monthly meeting of the trade association. This is six pieces a month — no mean feat on top of my own business commitments — not to mention my family.

We need, on the Executive, people who are not only prepared to take an active part in the monthly meetings of the trade association, but who are also able to perhaps take a turn at writing some of these pieces for the newspapers and, even on the odd occasion, the newsletter.

I suppose that, really, this is an appeal for some help in the onerous duties I have had to take on for the good of the business community of this town. When I joined the Chamber of Commerce Executive, it was because I wanted to put something back into the town. I didn’t, however, have it in my mind to have to do most of it myself. The Chairman of any committee is supposed to be a figurehead that runs the meetings, and delegates other duties to other members. I guess I must have gone wrong somewhere!!!

However, having said all of that, I wouldn’t want to take anything away from some of the other executive members who do work extremely hard on your behalf and I am hopeful that, if Andy Weir, who is currently acting Vice Chairman, is voted in as vice chair at the AGM, some of the work will be taken from my shoulders. It has to be said that he has already given me a huge amount of support and I’m extremely grateful for that.

BUT WE STILL NEED YOU!!!

We now have a beautiful fountain in the boating lake. My feeling is that this is just the kind of stunning attraction we need. With any luck it will detract from some of the other questionable things on display and people’s attention will be attracted to the fountain and the beautiful swan in flight, not to mention the real live birds that live and nest down there.

I am also very hopeful that there will be an initiative to bring together many of the groups that have cropped up in the town in a new and cohesive committee to meeting and interact with the proposed new Town Manager, whoever he/she may be. This could be the catalyst for County and Borough to understand the needs of Newquay as a major holiday destination and is something in which I feel the NCCT should play a major role. Whether or not we get chosen to take an active part on the committee is yet to be seen.

I suppose I should mention the NCCT 10% Off Day, which took place on the 16 December last.

I’m sure you will have read about how successful it was in the newspapers and Andy and I were extremely pleased with the support we received, some of which was slightly unintended it has to be said.

We made up a list of virtually every shop in the town and, together with some members of our families, marched around the town and approached every shop to gauge interest. We were pleased with the interest we received and the list, which indicated whether the shop was going to take part, whether it was thinking about it, whether it was a definite no, and so on and so forth, was sent to the press and updated on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, inadvertently, the Newquay Guardian printed the entire list as taking part and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that this caused quite a stir. The Guardian had to do a headless chicken act, running around to all those shops that had indicated they did not wish to take part and apologising for the error. I received telephone calls from people who felt that, by printing the name of their shop when they had indicated that they were not taking part, we were penalising them and causing adverse attention of shoppers to the fact. However, I have not received anything from those shops to say how grateful they are that we managed to generate so much more business for the town and, by default, them.

The town was full, Ken Clarke’s Santa’s Sleigh and Charity Street Market did incredibly well and I have received reports that some of the shops were three to five times busier. Altogether an excellent initiative I would say.

We have received comments that some of the shopkeepers would like to have some organised and advertised late night shopping in Newquay — and why not? So, I and Andy will be working towards facilitating just that for next year, together with free parking and 10% Off Days.

You may ask, “Well why should I be a member of the NCCT. I’ll receive all of this free publicity and extra business anyway” — and how right you are. I can’t make you join the trade association or get you to support us by paying a membership fee. I can’t make you enter your business details onto the business directory. I can only point out that, if you don’t, you are in danger of turning your trade association into a toothless wonder.

I think that, after I step down from the Chairmanship of the NCCT, I may on the odd and rare occasion be remembered for saying so many times “We are only as strong as our membership. In order to have a strong voice for business, we need to have a strong membership.”.

May I take this opportunity of wishing you a very Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year. Watch out for the AGM documentation and for the announcements on this website.