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Summer BID Update
What IS the weather doing?! It has sadly played absolute havoc with many events this summer and has not been the greatest time for al fresco dining and drinking. Such a shame for all our fabulous cafés, bars and restaurants who've made a huge effort to up their outdoor offering. Still, the back end of August and September are supposed to be better, so let's hope for a late summer... Fingers Crossed.
POP-UP MARKET
We were really sad to have to cancel our pop up market. We had around 25 traders lined up with some wonderful produce, jewellery, ceramics, flowers and artwork but we had to make the sensible decision given the weather warning. Gales and gazebos do not mix. We were hoping to reschedule to 12th August, but too many stallholders are now on hols or at other markets. However, we hope to host a few guest traders who are able to make it, including the fabulous "Artist Susie West", plus a busker or two to liven up the town centre.
We are working on a long-term solution that will enable us to host small markets on a more regular basis.
OXTED MAPS
We now have our lovely Oxted map at the Station in the ticket hall, at Master Park and online, on our website. The map will also be installed shortly next to the pathway from Ellice Road car park (awaiting planning permission) and on the windows at the barriers of Platform 2 at Oxted Station.
The map, created by Tom Bacon of @thatlittlemapshop is free for you to use, so please do so. It's on the website BID section for download. It is designed to be a visual snapshot of the sorts of businesses available in the town centre on both sides and will update it every now and then.
WAYFINDING PROJECT SUBMISSION
We have submitted a bid to Tandridge District Council for a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) grant, to enable us to carry out am overhaul of wayfinding in Oxted town centre. This will be a map-based system to connect Station Roads East and West and enable better navigation about the town, as well as decluttering existing signage, consolidating signage styles and also providing clearer signage with regards to parking.
JOBS PAGE
We have launched our jobs page - https://loveoxted.co.uk/jobs-oxted/ . Please feel free to send in any job or volunteering opportunities to Sophie - marketing@loveoxted.co.uk - giving brief description, contact details and closing date for applications.
PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION - World Photography Day 19th August
- We will use this day to promote Oxted and encourage people to share their photos that celebrate Oxted as a great place to live, work, shop and visit - through the eyes of the locals and visitors to the town.
- Any photos sent into our email or posted and tagged to @loveoxted will be shared on our social media and website.
- Local photographer, Matt Talboys, aka @hudds_photos will be judging them, and we will be giving 5 lucky winners £20 each to spend in a BID business. We will provide them with an email/letter of accreditation and will reimburse whichever business they choose to spend the money in.
- Please encourage your customers to post photos of you and your business to their social media tagging your business and @loveoxted. It's a great way to promote your business.
CHRISTMAS
- As mentioned before, this year we are going to avoid putting all our eggs in one basket at the mercy of the weather and spread activity over a number of weekends in the run up to Christmas. This also minimises the need for road closures.
- The lights switch on / late night shopping will be Thursday 23rd November, with some entertainment, and there will be a Christmas market (daytime) on Saturday 2nd December.
- The following Saturdays will each have some form of entertainment or activity (shared between Station Road East and Station Road West) to encourage people into the town centre and we will also run a Christmas trail.
- Any ideas and suggestions greatly appreciated.
- We would love a Santa's grotto if your business is up for hosting one!
- Any business owners/managers wishing to help out by being part of the organising committee are very welcome. Please email Sophie - marketing@loveoxted.co.uk or WhatsApp. +44 7514 011355.
HELLOS & GOODBYES
- Sadly we have said goodbye to Subway and this premises is up for lease, and also goodbye to The Plan Shop and to Oxted Business Dictation and wish their respective owners a very well-earned retirement!
- We also said goodbye to Oxted Floor Designs, as Keith retired after a very long time as part of the Oxted business community. However, we say hello to Bespoke Floors Oxted, who have taken over the premises. Bespoke Floors is owned by Gary and Wendy Pitt, who have been in the flooring business for 50 years, and for 25 years have owned a successful shop in Beckenham. The Oxted branch is managed by Stuart Luxford.
- Scott Taylor Garden Designs has also now taken over The Plan Shop premises. Run by Scott Taylor (a regular face on TV garden programmes) and Sarah Coldwell, both Oxted locals, STG Design Ltd has been operating since 2008 and is a high end Garden Design & Build company that works with clients all around the UK.
- Pan y Vino's Bocata - a Spanish Deli and sandwich shop - is due to open in the former Hop Stop premises in September.
We wish them all the best in their new (ad)ventures.
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August dates to help promote business
- Tomorrow, 4th August, is Cycle to Work Day – on your bike Oxted! Promote a cleaner, healthier, less congested Oxted town centre.
- 8th August – International Cat Day - promote anything cat-related!
- Sunday 13th August is Prosecco Day!
- Thursday 17th August - A’LEVEL RESULTS AND National Cupcake Day
- Saturday 19th August – World Humanitarian Day – promote our brilliant charity shops / volunteering.
- Saturday 19th August - World Photography Day - please encourage your customers to take photos of you and your businesses and post to their social media, tagging both your business and @loveoxted
- 20th August – Oxted Boot Fair, Master Park – organised by Titsey Rotary. This event always brings people into town we will do our best to encourage them to head into town and get an ice cream, coffee, lunch etc in one of our lovely cafes or restaurants.
- 21st August – World Entrepreneurs’ Day – celebrating all the wonderful independent businesses we have on our doorstep. Sophie will be making her way around businesses to take photos over the next couple of weeks.
- 24th August – National Burger Day AND GCSE Results Day
- 26th August – National Dog Day - promote dog-friendly Oxted and anything related to man's best friend
- August Bank Holiday weekend - Edenbridge & Oxted Show – showcasing lots of local businesses.
Don’t forget, please tell your customers they can park for FREE after 6pm and ALL WEEKEND in the Ellice Road and Tandridge Council carparks.
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Reminder National Recycling Week, 19-25th September
National Recycling Week 19-25th September and we'd love you to be involved in helping to promote recycling and the reduction of waste.
Thank you to all the businesses who have been in touch already re. recycling and waste reduction. Sophie is posting profiles of businesses and what they're doing over the coming weeks, so please don't forget to send a quick email with a few details:
- What do you already do as a business to promote recycling or waste reduction?
- How can we help you do more?
- Do you have a recycling or sustainability champion in your business?
- What could you implement for Recycling Week and beyond?
There are lots of creative things we're sure you're doing already, but we'd love to hear about them so we can publicise them - Sophie will follow this up and pop in to take photos etc. Please email: marketing@loveoxted.co.uk
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Please don't hesitate to email Tracey - tracey@loveoxted.co.uk with any regulatory or general BID management enquiry, or to Sophie on marketing@loveoxted.co.uk for any Marketing/Events or Attractive Town enquiries.
Please let us know your news and don't forget to TAG @loveoxted into your posts and stories on social media.
All the best and have a great August,
The BID Management Team
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