Category: Business News

THE next June, Late Breakfast event in Thame will be on Thursday, the 21st in the Eden Suite at The Spread Eagle Hotel, Cornmarket from 9am – 10.30am.

Guest Speaker this month will be Chartered Occupational Psychologist and NLP Master Practitioner, MELANIE GREENE who works as a consultant, coach and trainer with a wide variety of organisations, talking about ‘Your Brain At Work: How To Increase Your Performance’. Based on David Rock?s wonderful book ‘Your Brain At Work’ this 30 minute session will be interactive and practical, equipping you with ideas and techniques to put directly into action after the session.

Book through the website by Wednesday, June 20, to appear on the guest list or simply turn up on the day. Either way the entry fee of

SHOP workers in Clintons Cards, in Buttermarket, Thame, can heave a sigh of relief today, after learning that the branch will not be closing and their jobs are safe.

The company was bought by an American firm, Ohio-based American Greetings, which has been one of Clinton’s biggest suppliers. It will take on the brands and assets of the high street chain which collapsed into administration a month ago with about 400 stores out of more than 700 nationally being saved.

The other Oxfordshire branches saved from closure include the Westgate Centre, Oxford; Woolgate Centre, Witney; Sheep Street, Bicester; Castle Quay, Banbury and Bell Street, Henley.

SHOP workers in Clintons Cards, in Buttermarket, Thame, can heave a sigh of relief today, after learning that the branch will not be closing and their jobs are safe.

The company was bought by an American firm, Ohio-based American Greetings, which has been one of Clinton’s biggest suppliers. It will take on the brands and assets of the high street chain which collapsed into administration a month ago with about 400 stores out of more than 700 nationally being saved.

The other Oxfordshire branches saved from closure include the Westgate Centre, Oxford; Woolgate Centre, Witney; Sheep Street, Bicester; Castle Quay, Banbury and Bell Street, Henley.

LOCAL independent shops throughout South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse will be flying the flag this July in a show of support for diversity on the high street.

On 4 July 2012, people across the country will be encouraged to buy at least one item from their local independent shop to celebrate Independents? Day 2012, and retailers across Southern Oxfordshire?s seven towns will be playing their part.

?Independents? Day?, a national campaign organised by Skillsmart Retail and the National Skills Academy for Retail, champions the local retailers who make the UK?s villages, towns and cities so special.

To raise awareness of the campaign, independent retailers will be displaying the Independents? Day logo in their shop windows. Residents and visitors will also be encouraged to share and celebrate what they bought at independent retailers on the 4th July by tweeting a photograph of their purchase and where they bought it from, followed by #southernoxonindependents. A prize will be given to the person who tweets the best photo.

Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Property and Technical Services at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?South Oxfordshire has a vast number of independent retailers to be proud of. Our residents really value the contribution our local retailers make to life in the district and I?m sure will give them their full support on 4th July.?

With more than 160,000 independent retailers making up 92 per cent of all retail businesses in the UK, their importance to local economies, as well as their contribution to a location?s identity and community, is unrivaled.

Jane Rexworthy, Head of the National Skills Academy for Retail said: Independents Day aims to highlight the huge range of skills successful independent retailers need to make our towns and cities such interesting and varied places to visit and shop. We offer a wide range of support directly to retailers to help them get ahead. It?s essential independent retailers understand that to compete today they have to have the best people as well as products, and that training and development can really make a difference.?

To stay up to date with all the activities, you can follow the campaign on Twitter @Retail_IndieDay, facebook.com/independentsday or on the news section of www.retailindieday.com

REGULARS will have noticed that there have been big and exciting changes at Rumsey?s Chocolaterie in Upper High Street, Thame, and a real buzz of excitement about the new menu.

The shop has been redecorated both inside and out, and new comfy sofas and free WIFI is now available for those who need a relaxing work environment or a meeting space. Exciting new events planned will include writing classes run by local author, Joanna Collie.

New window seating is the perfect place to sit and enjoy a hot chocolate with a delicious pastry and watch the world go by. The popular chocolate ?theatre? where Nigel Rumsey and his chefs display the fine art of chocolate making is back by popular demand and there is also now space for a new kid?s After School Chocolate Club, starting soon.

An expanded lunch menu includes delicious sandwiches freshly made with local produce, to have in or to take away. There are wonderful sweet bakes, satisfying soups, and delicious desserts including ice cream made to Nigel?s own secret recipe. The caf

THAME is gearing up for a great weekend of events to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, over the first weekend in June, which is a public holiday.

Even town centre shops and businesses are being encouraged to play their part in getting into the spirit of things by decorating their windows with a relevant theme. The Town Mayor will present the winning window with a suitable prize offered by Thame4Busines.

Town Mayor, Nigel Champken-Woods, said: ?I do hope local businesses will all rise to the occasion and make the high street even more attractive to both visitors and the locals. Let’s take this opportunity to really ‘big up’ Thame’s shopping offer!”

DURING the recent ‘Thame Tidy Day’ a local company gave their time and expertise to cleaning off graffiti from around the town, so we decided to find out a bit more about them and spread the word about their business.

The Shield Group, based at Milton Common, is well established in the area, having been in operation for the last 25 years, and is proud of the fact that the business is based on the old fashioned principals of hard work and honesty. Today, their fully trained team is dedicated to providing a first class professional service in the Industrial Cleaning, Estate and Property Maintenance Industry.

Director, Steve Partington, told ThameNews.Net: “Our team members are all specialists in the cleaning of graffiti and we have over 25 years industry experience providing a complete graffiti removal and anti-graffiti service. We are an inaugural member of the Anti-Graffiti Association and join them in their aim to promote Best Practice in the management of graffiti, vandalism and related crime.

“We use state of the art machinery and the latest in highly advanced products to remove graffiti and paint from virtually any surface. We can also re-paint surfaces to help with the overall finish if necessary.

“Since the Company was founded in 1984 Shield has steadily built a valued client base, based on two key principles: Quality and Value for Money. Working to these principles has helped us to achieve regular, repeat business, an aspect that we consider vital to our continued success.”

AS the Thame Loyalty Card scheme continues to expand, the participating businesses have been competing with one another to attract the most new members.

During January, Gary Newbrook, who runs CAAOS, the computer shop in Cornmarket, Thame, managed to enrol the most new card holders from amongst his customers.

The Mayor of Thame, David Bretherton, took time out from his busy schedule – including helping to organise the royal visit next Wednesday (May 2) – to present Gary with a bottle of Champagne, just before the start of Tuesday’s Annual Town Meeting.

The Champagne was donated by Sean Fitzgerald, the Manager of Waitrose, Thame, who are promoting the scheme. Loyalty cards are available to buy for a life-time’s membership, for just

BECAUSE of high demand for funds made available recently to help Thame shopkeepers spruce up their frontages, more money has now been made available.

Shopkeepers in Thame, chinnor and Wheatley are being encouraged to help brighten up their surroundings and make a real difference to the local shopping area, by taking advantage of this follow-on shop front improvement scheme, being funded by South Oxfordshire District Council’s Economic Development team.

The scheme is open to all freehold owners, lease holders (with at least five years on their lease) and tenants of premises in Thame with commercial shop fronts. These include:
shops ? including hairdressers, beauty salons, funeral directors, laundrettes, dry cleaners etc

financial and professional services ? banks, building societies and estate agents

restaurants, pubs, cafes and takeaways.

Funding is available for work ranging from entirely new shop fronts and large scale replacement and repair work, to painting, signage, displays or lighting.

Since large parts of Thame town centre are in a conservation area, this can add significantly to the costs. The grant will therefore help to reduce the impact and improve the appearance of the town centre.

Trudy Godfrey, Shared Economic Development Team Leader at SODC, said: “Shop fronts are the most noticeable part of a building and make a big impact on a town centre. They contribute to people?s first impressions and can dramatically affect a town?s image.”

Last year ten businesses in Thame took advantage of the first round of funding, including Mary Brooks, Austins and Eclipse Hair Design.

Applications must be received by June 30, 2012, and work completed by September 30,2012.

The scheme is being administered by 21st Century Thame, a partnership of representatives from Thame Town Council, businesses and community groups, South Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council and is being funded by South Oxfordshire District Council.

The scheme can provide up to 50 per cent of the total expenditure on the project, with each project required to match the funding by 50 per cent. A maximum of

A local photography business is celebrating its new prestigious title of ‘Trusted Google Photographer.

Thame 360, which specialises in panoramic photography, has been chosen to help add businesses to Google places, maps and street view. They will be working with businesses to take 360 images of shop interiors so that the prospective shopper can take a look around before leaving their house and then hopefully, actually visit it!

Photographer Bob Stapleton told Thamenews.net: ?I set up Thame360 a couple of years ago, which is a similar sort of concept, but obviously Google is taking it one step further.?

Thame360 has already produced virtual images of various Thame businesses, which are viewable on Google. You can now see the inside of 2 Wheels, the bike shop on the High Street, Gallant Menswear, on Greyhound walk, and Bizzie Lizzie Flower Shop in the Upper High Street. (Click on the little orange man when you find the business on Google maps)

Searching on Google can now lead you directly inside shops or restaurants, allowing customers to learn more about a business and what it has to offer. As well as being impressive in quality and fascinating to explore, this futuristic technology has many practical applications. As well as being able to browse the layout of a restaurant for instance, the new service has many practical uses, like helping potential customers to check for disabled access.

Thame is involved in the early stages of this innovative and expanding enterprise and is one of the first non-city sites to take part. ?It?s something that hasn?t really been properly launched yet,? explained Bob. ?There will be a big roll out within the next month or so. Google are keeping the project very low key at the moment but will soon be launching a big marketing exercise.?

Sonja Francis, Chair of Thame4Business, said: “Its great that Thame is at the forefront of these worldwide, hi-tech developments and the fusion of technology with local businesses will help put Thame on the map!”

AUTHOR: Suzannah Smith