Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Roger - no, the lowest package is £350 as I said in my post, that is the one I have taken up.
This is also certainly not a competitor for any Chamber and is supported by all main Chambers - it is no more a competitor than newspaper advertising is or BNI and they certainly are not. All businesses should have a marketing budget and each business will determine where that budget is spent, it is a matter of horse for courses. Chamber membership comes under business support not marketing budgets, different things though Chamber can and do help with marketing with networking opportunities.
The worse thing any business can do when times are hard is to cut marketing, on the contrary, they should be looking for new marketing opportunities and try different things. Yes things are very tight for all small businesses, that never really changes.
The more marketing options the better - more choice means better targetting. It's good to hear about new initiatives.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Sorry to be pedantic Barry; on the website it clearly states the cost is £430:
High Street and Website advertising for only £6.74 a week.
OR
£100.00 deposit and 11 monthly payments of £30.00
(total payment £430.00)
I guess if you have the £350 up front, you'll save a good bit.
A good scheme, but I do think the majority of retail businesses in Dover could not afford this amount, so once again (or is it still) they are unsupported.
£3.50 a week to belong to the Dover or Channel Chamber of Commerce's Business Support was very cheap considering the pro-active support they were going to get.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
there it is again this morning, did anyone know this was going to happen?
No.........
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,657
If any group should know it would surely be the Chamber of Commerce.
An irony that they are parked outside an empty shop.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
there are few enough people in market square on a nice day let alone an icy february one,
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,225
This is a private enterprise set up by Roger Knight. Good initiative from a switched on businessman.
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
didn't look that way to me paul, was it advertised anywhere?
the crowd scene when i was there consisted of 2 lager drinkers and an elderly lady who kept her head down as she went past in case they wanted money.
made the william hague roadshow look a resounding success.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I understand it will be "live" in March and they will then be travelling around the East Kent Towns promoting the businesses who are members of it.
Roger (Knight) is a successful businessman and I wish him and this venture well. I don't know how they work it when they arrive at a Town and park up; do they just stand around waiting for people to come to them, or do they visit the businesses in that Town, giving them literature about the scheme and try and encourage those businesses to join up.
All businesses need more exposure and support; they have to determine which one works best for them, but it can work out expensive while they are finding that out.
Roger
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
From what I've seen they just arrive and without any prior knowledge and hand out leaflets if they are approached
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
They need to be pro-active and have someone visit the shops/businesses. Perhaps have special offers if businesses join up on that day.
I'll be surprised if they just stand around waiting for business people come to them.
Roger Knight is a better businessman than that.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
if they want business people to come to them they are in the wrong place roger.
would be interesting to see how many people have signed up at these roadshows.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I agree Howard that the public will want to visit the "bus" to find out about the businesses and what they do and have to offer, in their particular Town, but I would have thought that most people would know quite well, what businesses are in their own Town.
I would assume that businesses would also know about the other business in their Town.
I think I'm missing something here.
Roger
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
Roger, I mentioned it another thread, free parking!
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,657
Most people only know about businesses that they regularly use the problem can be when you need to find a business you might not have used before, so out comes yellow pages and the hope you have chosen wisely.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
As previously mentioned this is a private commercial marketing initiative supported by the Chamber of Commerce and local councils. Currently they are on a 'work-up' and will be operational from March.
Jan - if you ever, or indeed anyone, need a tradesman of a professional feel free to contact me. Among my many business contacts and clients I have people in most trades/occupations and I would only recommend one I have confidence in, otherwise it reflects badly on me.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,572
This is a rather strange venture not well advertised if the aim is to get local business involved, but we should always encourage anyone trying to better for business's locally.
We will have to see if the £300 or £400 does bring in local business to this organisation, any what take up there is(apart from barryw) in the longer term
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
I can vouch for BarryWs contacts! Honestly, he really is one of the first people I think of if need some advice about local services.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Keith - it is as I said in the pre-launch period and according to Roger Knight he is getting a great response as he should because its a first class initiative.