Stepping Into Broadstone
Overview
The 'Step into Broadstone' Event on Saturday 4th May bought in visitors and raised the profile
Published: Jun 27, 2013
By: Simon Merry
The May Day Event
A Saturday afternoon in Broadstone is generally quiet and slow - not on Saturday 4th May! The “Step into Broadstone” Event brought many people out to enjoy the street music and art, maypole dancing and, of course, the ‘Bake Off’. These and other attractions aimed to complement businesses promoting what they have an offer everyday.
Many outlets put on special features and offers including tastings at Budgens, a BBQ at Oakley Butchers, free assessments at Broadstone Physiotherapy and coffin fittings at Griffins. Other features such as the ‘Imagine Photographic’ Photo Trail proved popular and got people seeking out businesses in Station Approach and Moor Road too. Owen Moore sang ‘Step into Broadstone’ and local cook, Amanda Wright, won the Invitation Event to create the first ever ‘Broadstone Bun’. The Bake Off was a huge success with 40 contestants and many more creations! We hope the Broadstone Bun will be ‘on the High Street’ soon.
A 'Shopping Centre' or a 'Centre for Shopping'
Broadstone certainly isn’t one of those large, soulless, unfriendly and often bewildering ‘shopping centres’ that has no sense of ownership or connection. Shopping centres are places for transactions but not interactions. Broadstone is quite the opposite; it is a local, welcoming, familiar ‘centre for shopping’ where you will also be able spend time meeting people.
Did you know that in a recent survey of big chain stores shoppers, 37% said they were too crowded, 24% were frustrated that items were not in stock, 22% found long queues and 19% commonly get annoyed at not finding the right products. Is that your experience too?
Buy-in-Broadstone
The Buy-in-Broadstone Scheme will be a ‘partnership’ between businesses and residents as well as workers and frequent visitors. The partnership is formed through businesses providing an incentive and we residents choosing to stay local for more of our needs. Our own survey tells us that people expect to be welcomed and respected as well as finding choice and value for money. If we are not careful the doom and gloom headlines will be believed, but the reality, in Broadstone at least, is very different. Here you will find your expectations are delivered and traders are responsive too. Did you notice that ‘Something Special’ in the Broadway is now selling Haberdashery? If you look you will find most things, including a shoe shop and a cobblers.
There is an opportunity to have a say in shaping things through the Customer Panel. This will enable shoppers to say what they need and expect and for business proprietors to gain views on their ideas. Please make contact for more information.
“Make Broadstone your First Choice for Retail, Services and Leisure”
Simon Merry Chair Broadstone Chamber of Trade and Commerce
Simon.merry@trustandconfidencebydesign.com 07806 093793
