Dartmouth Business Forum
it’s god’s County. And Dartmouth and the surrounding South Hams are a blessed corner of Devon Heaven. However beautiful it might be, the lovely town of Dartmouth is surprisingly isolated. it’s far from the motorway and few people drive through Dartmouth to get to other towns in the region. we’re on the road to nowhere. that’s a challenge to many local businesses who don’t enjoy the same volume of footfall as totnes. And how do businesses cope with the unpredictable seasonal tourism feasts, when they are stretched to keep up with demand, followed by the tourist famines when the tumbleweed drifts up Foss Street? Dartmouth can be a very challenging place to sustain a business. that’s why the Dartmouth business Forum (DbF) has emerged to consult with and represent the needs of Dartmouth businesses in the corridors of local power and to encourage positive initiatives that will help the town. Paul reach, Chairman of DbF says “now with one voice the businesses of Dartmouth will be able to influence the key decisions being taken about the future economic and structural development of Dartmouth.”
W
Francesca Johnson of reddevelop, Sales & Marketing Agency www.
reddevelop.com says, “After just one meeting
it already feels that under the leadership of someone like Paul – some real objectives can be put in place that represent the best interests and the support of our local traders. it’s important, however, for us all to contribute individually towards achieving the various goals ahead so that we can evolve the DbF into a proper team effort and generate some real collective strength. the added bonus of having a great social media partner in the form of love Dartmouth makes me feel very confident that this new initiative is going to prove a huge success.” DbF is not about sitting around discussing problems. it’s about taking vigorous action and its focus is on attracting
hen wi members sing about ‘england’s green and pleasant land,’ they must surely be thinking of Devon.
inward investment. within days of their launch, DbF had submitted a bid for the government’s Pilot town Fund headed up by Mary Portas and proposals are in progress for two more government funding schemes, the FSb Coastal towns initiative and business improvement District status. effective consultation with local businesses is a challenge.
Paul reach understands that busy business leaders find it difficult to commit to regular meetings: “we’ve set up an online meeting place. with our
own group on Dartmouth’s own social network, www.
lovedartmouth.com, the business Forum members can now login, whenever they are near a computer – at any time, night or day and join in the discussions, take part in our surveys and have their say on local issues.” ‘what we are trying to achieve with the DbF is a way for businesses to be involved in our activities through the use of web-based tools such as Social Media, e-newsletters, an active website and the use of online survey tools.“ those words are not just empty aspirations. within three weeks of their launch DbF had implemented a full Social Media campaign, with a new website at www. dartmouthbusinessforum. com donated by www.
kokosocial.com, (the people behind love Dartmouth). Paul says, “the website displays beautifully on
PC, iPad, iPhone & Android (so we don‘t need a separate mobile site or an expensive mobile App) and new content is automatically syndicated to our Facebook and twitter accounts and it’s all co-ordinated with our email newsletters.” A final word from Paul, “i am optimistic that we have made a good start and i hope, with all the digital tools at our disposal, we can keep up the involvement of local businesses and sustain their enthusiasm for a better Dartmouth.”
If you are a local business and want to join the Dartmouth Business Forum, email Mark Simpson (DBF Membership Secretary) at
mark@bythedart.co.uk.
LOCAL
MARKETING SERVICES
Let By The Dart Local Marketing
Services take the strain out of your social media marketing
Ask about our FREE Marketing Health Check to help you get started MORE THAN JUST A MAGAZINE
Please mention By The Dart when responding to adverts. To advertise here, please call 01803 835740 or email
mark@bythedart.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144