Following the fallout from the screening of Party Paramedics by Channel 4 on Monday evening, our town centre could certainly do with something slightly more positive right now. With perfect timing and The Chronic was rather warmed to find out all about Support Independent Colchester. This is a new initiative that has been set up, with the overt and unashamed aim of helping to support the hyperlocal economy. It is the retail equivalent of the ACE Keep Colchester Cool.
Set up by, Pasini Promotions, Support Independent Colchester is the next phase of the local campaign to help plug local bars and traders. Donna from the group told The Chronic:
“Pasini Promotions was formed because we realised all the promotional techniques we were using at our bars would benefit other businesses. Support Independent Colchester is a development of that work. We are all local people who live in Colchester who care passionately about the success of independently run businesses.
We have spent a lot of time learning and developing ways of getting our businesses noticed, and through Support Independent Colchester, we believe we can help other small businesses, who may not have the time, budget or know how to get their business noticed and also give the general public a much better view of what Colchester has to offer.”
Which all sounds like the perfect PR tie-in to help patch up the nighttime economy [urgh] portrayal of our town that was put over in Party Paramedics. Walking down the High Street and it is clear that entertainment plays a large part in keeping the town afloat. You can’t hide away from the benefits that booze can bring to Britain’s Oldest Recorded. But by collectively working together, the experience of the local traders should at least hopefully have some impact against the damaging image that we all saw on TV at the start of the week.
Donna adds:
“In the next week or so we will be approaching as many small, independent businesses as we can to ask them to enroll. We will then cross promote to over 6.000 members of the general public that are currently engaged with the independent businesses Pasini Promotions represent. So as well as a great tool for the public to find out what town offers, Support Independent Colchester will also put businesses together.”
One of the many themes that is often spoken about our town centre is that is has a tremendous sense of history and locality, but this is now fast disappearing. This is a further strand that Support Independent Colchester wants to try and address:
“There has been a great deal of media attention recently regarding the survival of the High Street. Having run what is a successful independent business for fifteen years in Colchester where we have tried to stay away from the mainstream and create our own interesting niche, we understand the challenges and how difficult it can sometimes be.
It’s important to keep the individuality – Colchester would be a very dull place with out the boutiques, restaurants, bars and shops to give it personality. We hope through Support Independent Colchester can help make this part of the town’s economy thrive.”
The collective bargaining power of the coming together of Colchester’s independent traders can’t be denied. This is a theme that was touched upon at the recent Destination Colchester meeting, with local hoteliers wanting to be able to work with one another to help improve the image of the town.
Out towards the east of our Borough and a similar hyperlocal economic trading group is already working wonders on the ground. Wivenhoe Town Council originally put Wivenhoe First forward as an idea. It now boasts most traders within the town as members, and serves not only as an online and offline business directory, but also as a support network for its members.
Support Independent Colchester is proposing something even grander, given the geographic difference in size. Any positive image that comes out of our town following Party Paramedics has to be applauded. The coincidence in timing has inspired The Chronic with a hyperlocal business plan: a Sunny Colch costume outfitters catering purely for umpa lumpa’s.
Cripes.
