Category: Business News

THE giant supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is to take over a large empty retail space in Thame town centre.

ThameNews.Net learnt today that Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, which closed its Sainsbury’s Local shop at the Shell petrol station late last year, is to take over the empty Woolworth’s shop in Thame High Street.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson told Thamenews.net: “We were disappointed to leave Thame following the closure of the Shell garage. Since then Sainsbury?s has been monitoring opportunities in the area and we are delighted to have acquired the former Woolworths store. We consider a number of factors in store location planning, but the main reason for returning to Thame is to provide food choice in the town ? the Sainsbury?s offer of great products at fair prices.

“Being located at the heart of the high street on Market Square and benefiting from 60 car park spaces to the rear, we feel the store will be a positive addition to the town in terms of food choice, new jobs and our input into the community.”

When asked specifically whether Sainsbury’s would be competing for the same customer base as Waitrose, who are already in the town, the spokesperson said: “Obviously there is a need for another food outlet in the town otherwise it would not be financially viable for us to go there.”

Refurbishment and re-branding of the empty shop, which covers 7000 sq ft, will begin in October and Sainsbury’s say that they hope the store will open in time for Christmas 2009.

Sainsbury’s recently took over the empty Woolworth’s in Henley-On-Thames and has plans in place to open 50 convenience stores in this financial year, with another 100 due next year.

THAME’S MP, John Howell, has criticised the Government?s proposed changes to planning rules, which he claims will reduce the powers of councils such as SODC, to control out-of-town retail development.

A new report from a cross-party House of Commons Committee has warned that the Government?s proposed changes to planning rules on retail development (the scrapping of the ?needs test?) will result in “many more out-of-town superstores” and lead to what it calls “unnecessary risks to town centres.”

This comes as a separate nationwide survey by the British Retail Consortium has found that 1 in 10 of all town centre shops is now vacant.

It is feared that the Government?s proposals to scrap the ?needs test? will end the requirement for developers to prove the ?need? for additional out-of-town development. The Government consultation exercise found that the changes would ?lead to more edge-of and out-of-centre development? and ?undermine regeneration schemes by allowing development outside town centres.”

John Howell said:

?I am not against out-of-town shopping centres in themselves; most of us use them at some time. But it is wrong that we are once again seeing another reduction in the powers of locally elected councillors to take decisions about planning in their area on proper evidence.

?In addition, this is a ridiculous time to put at risk the centres of our towns. Here in Henley (Ed. and Thame) we are seeing the town buck the trend of vacant shops. The scrapping of the ?needs test? sends all the wrong signals about promoting town centre regeneration.?

SODC?s Cabinet Member for Planning, Cllr Angie Paterson, said:

?We have set out a clear strategy for the district in our latest planning documents and there is no evidence to suggest that there is a need for any new out-of-town shopping schemes. Indeed our preferred approach is to promote our town centres. Anything which undermines this and takes control over planning away from local councils should be resisted.?

DESPITE the unfavourable retail climate generally, a new shop opened in Buttermarket, Thame, today – the second new business to do so recently.

All Wrapped Up, owned by Beverley and Martin Caket, sells cards, jewellery, fashionable reading glasses, glasswear, leather bags, scarves and a great selection of other gift ideas from 99p to

LONDON’S cycling Mayor, Boris Johnson, returned to his old constituency on Saturday, to launch a new cycle shop in Thame.

And the two local businessmen behind the venture had Boris literally in tandem when he was joined on a bicycle made for two, by ex town mayor, Cllr Don Butler, for a spin round the block.

Tim Parsons and David Green invited Mayor Johnson to the opening of ?2Wheels? – a cycle repair, sales, servicing, accessories and clothing shop at 99b High Street ? along with local MP, John Howell, who declined an invitation to join Boris on the tandem.

Boris joked: “With this wonderful bike shop, the cyclists of Thame will join those of us in London in saving the world.”

Tim owns the car parts and accessories shop, Autoparts, next door to 2Wheels and David and he worked there together for six years, some fifteen years ago.

Mayor Johnson told a large crowd that had gathered for the event, that he often brought his children to Thame to search for Christmas presents at Autoparts and had previously had one of his children?s bikes repaired there when the shop did cycle accessories. He said it was great to now have a cycle shop next door and congratulated Tim and David on the joint venture, saying it is fantastic to see new businesses launching at any time, but especially in the current economic climate.

Tim said: “We?ve often talked about opening a shop together. When the premises next to mine came onto the market it was too good a chance to miss. We used to do cycle accessories at Autoparts and with cycling becoming more and more popular, now seemed a great time to start a cycle sales, repair, accessories and clothing shop. The day went brilliantly the support we had from locals was overwhelming and the customer feedback was 100% positive, a great day all round.”

David, who had a spell as an estate agent before returning to retail, added: “The day was a great success. With the price of fuel going up, people thinking about climate change and getting more health and exercise conscious, cycling seems to be a sector that?s steered clear of the worst of the credit crunch. We combine cycle sales with repairs and have an exciting range of clothing and accessories for cyclists.”

Photo courtesy of Alison Nicholson @OTCN

A NEW cycle shop opens in Thame on Saturday, July 25, a joint venture between two businessmen who worked together in the shop next door 15 years ago.

Tim Parsons and David Green are launching ?2Wheels? – a cycle repair, sales, servicing, accessories and clothing shop at 99b High Street, Thame. It will launch with a ?special guest opening? at 11am on Saturday 25th July. They?ll also host a display by Scott, a major name in the industry, and there?ll be champagne and nibbles to welcome the first shoppers.

Tim owns the car parts and accessories shop, Autoparts, next door and David and he worked there together for six years.

Tim says: ?We?ve often talked about opening a shop together. When the premises next to mine came onto the market it was too good a chance to miss. We used to do cycle accessories at Autoparts and with cycling becoming more and more popular, now seemed a great time to start a cycle sales, repair, accessories and clothing shop. While we?ve been getting ready for the launch we?ve had people in on a daily basis so it is looking positive already.?

David, who had a spell as an estate agent before returning to retail, says: ?With the price of fuel going up, people thinking about climate change and getting more health and exercise conscious, cycling seems to be a sector that?s steered clear of the worst of the credit crunch. We?ll combine cycle sales with repairs, have an exciting range of clothing and accessories for cyclists and we?ll be aiming to make visiting the shop an experience, starting with our opening.?

2Wheels is opening in one of four retail premises in Thame owned by Jennings, who run business parks at Chalgrove and Garsington. Paul Mabbutt of Jennings says: ?When the previous tenant moved out, we had a number of enquiries for this shop. All the others were from people who had existing premises in Thame and were looking to move. The most attractive option for us was to play a part in bringing a new business into the town, so we?re delighted to be working with Tim and David and wish them all the best with their new venture.?

Iain Nicholson

AN Oxfordshire-wide business Network has experienced another big jump in membership, and now represents 200 new companies or sole trader businesses.

The Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network (web address: www.otcn.co.uk), has welcomed three new business organisations recently, taking its membership to 24 groups alongside ten events networks. Between them the 24 OTCN member groups now draw together 1,600 businesses.

Monument Park at Chalgrove, home to 80 businesses employing more than 500 people between them, has become the first business park to join the Network. The Oxfordshire Craft Guild, which brings together 70+ selected designers and makers of a wide range of traditional and contemporary crafts, and the 40-member Oxford Association of Hotels and Guest Houses are also now part of the Network.

Their membership means newcomers to the Guild and the Association plus new tenants at Monument Park can benefit from three months? free promotion on the OTCN new member?s page and member/tenant businesses can offer and take advantage of the OTCN member-2-member service. Member organisations can promote their events on the OTCN website and they?ll be kept up to speed with other business benefit initiatives that come through the Network, including promotions, training and environmental improvement opportunities.

OTCN is a communications network bringing together local chambers and other business groups in the county. It is working to promote business in Oxfordshire and aims to support the work of its member organisations and businesses, strengthen links between them, share ideas and best practice, discuss issues and, where appropriate, lobby on behalf of its members.

OTCN Director, John Naish (see picture below), said: ?We are delighted to welcome three new member organisations to our fast-growing Network. Their enthusiasm for becoming part of the Network is especially encouraging in that it demonstrates how we are continuing to widen our appeal beyond the original focus of local town chambers to take in other membership organisations and, now also, business parks.?

Paul Mabbutt, Director of Jennings who own and manage Monument Park, added: ?We have been working closely with OTCN for some time now and are delighted to get the opportunity to link our main business park to the organisation. I?m sure that there will be many ways we can benefit, and look forward to being part of the Network.?

Oxford Association of Hotels and Guest Houses Chairman, Stefan Wynne-Jones, said: ?We?re very pleased to have this opportunity link our member hotels and guest houses into a countywide business organisation. It is an excellent opportunity for our members and we look forward to playing our part in the continued growth and development of OTCN.?

Richard Shock, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Craft Guild, commented: ?The Oxfordshire Craft Guild is delighted to become a member of OTCN. We are looking forward to the chance to gain from the business experience of other members and from the networking opportunities OTCN offers. We also welcome the opportunity to show local businesses the quality and range of crafts being made by our members across the county and hope that mutually beneficial links between makers and business can be developed.?

Photo: L to R: John Naish, Paul Mabbutt, Mike Jennings

20/07/09

The economic development team at South Oxfordshire district council is currently undertaking some market research for Henley, Thame, Wallingford and Didcot. It aims to get a better understanding of who uses those towns and for what purpose. We are particularly interested in finding out whether people working in or nearby the towns are using them and why. If they aren?t, we would like to know why.

To help us do that we would like as many local employers as possible to complete our online questionnaire. We would be very grateful if you could circulate this email and encourage businesses in and around the four towns to take part. It will only take a few minutes to answer the questions, and responses will help inform future decisions about Henley, Wallingford, Thame and Didcot.

By filling in the questionnaire respondents could win up to

THAME Service Station was awarded the Used Car Retailer of the Year Award, at the prestigious Motor Trader industry awards, held at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane London, on Wednesday (08/07/09).

These ?Oscars? of the motor industry recognise the best performers and companies that have excelled during the tough trading climate in recent years.
Picked from hundreds of used car retailers and shortlisted alongside four others, TSS triumphed on the evening, picking up the prestigious award in front of hundreds of industry faces.

TSS, an independent dealer that specialises in nearly new Vauxhall, Ford and Saabs, received the award for its year on year growth since 1994, continually improving sales and customers care and now employing over 30 members of staff.

Karl White, Managing Director of Thame Service Station, commented: ?In a tough time for the industry we?ve focussed on the core aspects of our business ? people, place and product. This award is in recognition of this strategy. The staff we employ are chosen carefully to ensure customers are given a simple and professional service, our environment is welcoming to ensure customers are comfortable to do business and our cars are picked and prepared so carefully that they are better than anyone else?s.”

Karl continued: ?Winning this award will help add to the great reputation we have. We are already known nationally, but our local community is where we all came from and live, so we?re unashamedly supportive of local charities, societies, sports clubs, school and young people.”

THAME businesses are being offered the opportunity to promote themselves by joining the list of sponsors for this year’s Thame Food Festival in September.

The festival will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2009, and will be based in and around the Thame town hall, with market stalls, al fresco dining, demonstrations and workshops for children.

The aim is to support local food producers, outlets, pubs and restaurants by providing a different platform to promote their businesses. The event is being held in conjunction with The Local Flavours Festival from 1 ? 30 September, see: www.local-flavours.net

By helping to celebrate local food and drink in the beautiful historic market town of Thame and its unique independent retail offering, sponsors will be taking advantage of a fantastic opportunity to be part of a growing Festival in a vibrant town.

All sponsor organisations will have their logos on the 21st Century Thame website at: www.21stcenturythame.org.uk
(with links to their websites) and be acknowledged in all publicity material.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the Thame Food Festival, is invited to contact Alison Isherwood, 21st Century Thame Project Officer, e-mail:

ai@21stcenturythame.org.uk
tel: 01844 215215, mobile: 07944 175633

THAME businesses met at the Spread Eagle, Thame, yesterday to hear the latest developments in an economic development plan for the town.

After a introduction by Thame First ‘anchor man’ Matthew Cundy, Peter Farquar, Manager of The Spread Eagle, welcomed members and guests, including the Mayor of Thame, Jeannette Matelot Green, and then Caroline Wood, Economic Development Officer for South Oxfordshire District Council, explained why the plan was necessary and what would soon be happening in the town to kick start the plan.

“Market towns are changing and need support,” she said. Caroline explained that part of the plan was to commission a visitor survey to find out who was coming to the town, what they are using it for and why they may go somewhere else. She suggested that everyone could help by asking their employees whether they shop in the town, and if not, why not?

“We will share all that information with you,” she continued, “and work with consultants too who have expertise and skills to work out what makes your town unique and special and use that information to market the town with key attractions, and encourage entrepreneurs into the town.”

A business survey is soon to be carried out in Thame, which will see questioners out and about at locations throughout the town.

Caroline asked that the town’s businesses help them (SODC) to move forward and work with Thame First and 21st Century Thame.

“There is a pot of money for the grabbing,” (SEEDA funding and