Penzance Chamber of Commerce

Celebrations for the Wharfside Shopping Centre Anniversary

Cornwall’s only shopping Centre celebrates its second birthday this month fully let and basking in the warm glow of the success it has achieved in that time. Charville Estates' Wharfside Shopping Centre in Penzance enjoys what must surely be the most awe-inspiring view of any scheme in the country: the imposing outline of St Michael's Mount.

There was some initial concern on the part of some residents that the 73,000 sq ft retail/residential scheme might be out of kilter with the rest of the town, but those fears have been well and truly laid to rest.

"It arose from an idea that Robert and David Pulford had a number of years ago and then waited for the opportunity to develop" recalls centre manager John Bastow. "There was a great deal of concern from local people and authorities, but the end product works very well for the town. We have created a gateway into Penzance, and we were firmly committed to not taking retailers away from the town's main shopping street, Market Jew Street. Instead, retailers not already in Penzance were targeted. For years, parts of the town were in decline, but it is now picking up. Wharfside has changed the whole atmosphere in the town, and people no longer have to go to Truro to do their shopping."

Anchored by Littlewoods, Argos and Iceland, Wharfside features Peacocks, Gilesports, Claire's Accessories, The Body Shop and MVC among its 25 retail units. There are also two community buildings - Chough's Cafe, a training project for young people with learning difficulties, and The Living Word Christian bookshop - and a creche.

All retailers are achieving or exceeding their targets and Littlewoods is so happy that it is adding an extra 2,500 sq ft to its store. Footfall averages a healthy 100,000 a week.

"We thought there would be a very large impact from summer trade but we have maintained our loyal, local customer base and summer visitors boost numbers by 15 to 20%," says Mr Bastow. "It should always be a case of integrating with the town. We're here to enhance Penzance."

Reprinted by kind permission of 'Shopping Centre' - The business monthly for retail property executives.

Real Business

Do you recommend business development opportunities to clients? Would you like to discover an alternative form of development?

'Unlocking Comish Potential Business Development Evenings' facilitated by the University of Plymouth Business Team, offer a practical, cost effective means by which you can benefit from strategic and analytical experience, expert knowledge and the resources of the University.

The first development evening will be held in Truro on 3 July. Contact Charity Watkins on 01752-233500 to book.

Market Town Convention

The Annual Action for Market Towns Convention is to be held on 21 & 22 September at Liskeard, and promises to be the best ever. Action for Market Towns is an organisation that exists to promote the vitality of small towns, helping them to tackle the challenges they face and providing a national focus for critical issues. The convention will include talks and workshops on a range of community planning and revitalisation issues.

For further details, telephone 01284-756567 or email trudi.taylor@towns.org.uk

The Business Event you can't afford to miss

Penzance Chamber of Commerce is to host a road show next month featuring the Objective One Partnership Office who will explain what sort of projects are fundable and how local businesses can apply for such funding.

The Chamber's Chairman Mike Waters, will open the evening by introducing members' benefits of this organisation. The Economic Development Department of Penwith District Council will then make a presentation explaining the workings of the Integrated Area Plan Partner-ship Board and how Objective One bids are channelled through them.

The event will also include displays by a number of organisations, such as Cornwall College Direct showing the training support they can offer to local businesses. The Penzance-based Health & Safety and Food Hygiene Practitioners, Safety UK, has sponsored the event.

All local businesses are invited to attend. Numbers may have to be restricted, so those attending are asked to contact the Chamber's Secretary on 01736 719222 to register their intention. The event will be held in the ballroom of The Queens Hotel, Penzance, on Tuesday 24 July 2001, commencing at 7 pm.

Grand Tombola

Neighbourhood Watch Week comes to a close on Friday 22 June with a coffee morning and display of crime prevention products at the Queens Hotel. The event, being held from 10 till 1pm, features a grand tombola with many excellent prizes.

An opportunity to meet local liaison officers, the conclusion to a week of activities organised by the Penwith Neighbourhood Watch Trust includes a display of the latest in security devices, all available to purchase at discounted prices.

There will also be an introduction to the Trust's 'Australian Connection' - the first event of its kind.

Seal of approval for Cornish Stitch Designs

Penzance company is awarded the gold 'Made in Cornwall' logo by Cornwall County Council.

Following a recent visit and appraisal from a member of the Trading Standards Office, Thelma and John Murrish, who run the Cornish Stitch Designs shop at the Wharfside Shopping Centre, are proud to display the 'Made in Cornwall' logo on their cross-stitch kits.

The 'Made In Cornwall' Approved Origin Scheme, under the control of Cornwall County Council's Trading Standards Service, has been in place since 1991. It awards its logo for local producers to use in association with their genuine Cornish products.

Before businesses are invited to become members of the scheme they have to undergo an inspection by a Trading Standards Officer to ensure that their products are genuinely Cornish. This involves a visit to their premises, consideration of their working practices, and inspection of their manufacturing processes. Those businesses that join are permitted to use the logo in the promotion of their approved products. The products registered range of with the scheme continues to grow and more manufacturers join.

The scheme has attracted over 500 small and large producers looking to sell good quality, locally made goods. These include food, a wide range of crafts, art, toys, clothing jewellery, furniture, and leisure goods, many of which are still produced using traditional methods.

Thelma and John have been designing local Cornish scenes in counted cross-stitch for the past two years. Their first, St Michael's Mount, is now a best seller and has been followed by scenes such as Penzance Harbour, Porthleven, Higher Bal Mine, and Mousehole Harbour. Soon to be released are scenes from St Ives, Sennen Cove and Levant Mine.

All of their designs are created by hand. "Computer graphics are not for us," says John, whose father was born in St Ives. "We feel that going out sketching and talking to local people puts a bit of soul into our work." Thelma is truly delighted with the gold 'Made in Cornwall' labels and says: "We would urge all Cornish shops and businesses who produce Cornish goods to join the scheme and promote Cornwall."

Further information regarding the 'Made in Cornwall' Approved Origin Scheme is available from:

Liz Carveth,
Trading Standards,
Cornwall County Council,
Old County Hall,
Truro,
TR1 3AY
Tel: 01872-323728

Byte-size Broadcasting

Bridging the Urban-Rural Digital Divide - Falmouth College of Arts Media Centre, Penryn. 22 June -24 June

In contrast to the mass urban convergence motivated by the industrial revolution, an ideal of the digital age lays in the ability to access world-wide resources from the remotest of locations.

Metro centrism will become a thing of the past as new trends in home-based business emerge, and while locating in isolated rural areas becomes less of a social and economical disadvantage. The virtual workers of the future could live anywhere, so long as they have computers, modems and high-speed connections.

The media is one industry that has been at the forefront in incorporating technological advancement into its working practices. The development of computing has been a key issue here since the latter part of the 20th century, allowing an exodus from the traditional Fleet Street operation of the London Press and, with the herald of desk top publishing, permitting small publishers to engage in lucrative business from the comfort and cost effectiveness of the home office.

More recently the Internet has broadened such opportunities, and today's standard domestic PCs, together with an array of inexpensive software, allow absolutely anyone to unleash internationally accessible web journals, music companies, TV and radio stations. The potential here is profound and limited only by the imagination of the individual "netizen" with a PC in the spare bedroom and a few hours at hand.

Exploring such potential, Falmouth College of Arts plays host this week to 'byte-size broadcasting' - a cutting edge event aimed at rural communities. The event, to be held at FCA's Media Centre in Penryn, will feature national speakers; successful examples of local TV, radio and web casting; and lively debate around such issues as the broadcasting white paper, media convergence, rural connectivity and the urban/rural digital divide.

For those who require it, practical training will be available in web casting, web design and 'hacktivism'.

Byte-size broadcasting is organised by local company A38 Films. For more details contact Stephanie on 01752-318358, or Email Stephanie@a38fllms.co.uk

On the Web

The Chamber of Commerce members' site can be found at www.penzancechamber.co.uk

Further details on the Chamber and many other aspects of life and business in Penzance are available from www.penzance.co.uk

The Action for Market Towns website can be found at www.towns.org.uk

Details of byte-size broadcasting are available from http://byte-size.commedia.org.uk

For the latest news of special offers at Wharfside Shopping Centre, visit them online at www.wharfsideshopping.co.uk

Cross stitch kits by Cornish Stitch Designs are available to view and purchase via their website wwv.cornishstitchshop.co.uk

For discussion of all matters pertaining to Penzance, join us at the online Penzance Forum www.penzancechamber.co.uk

Information about the 'Made in Cornwall' scheme is available from www.cornwail.gov.uk/mic

Join the Chamber

The Penzance Chamber of Commerce offers valuable networking opportunities, and represents the views of local businesses and individuals to all levels of government. We invite membership applications from individuals and businesses large or small. For further information, visit the Membership Enquiry or Membership Application pages on this site or our membership site at www.penzancechamber.co.uk.

Contributions to Focus pages

These pages exist to promote the work of our members, and we invite participation from all involved with the Chamber. We are also happy to publish material from anyone else with an interest in the development of Penzance. Please send your articles no later than the first Thursday of the month to feature in the forthcoming issue, or contact the Press Officer, Penzance Chamber of Commerce, 16 Fore Street, Goldsithney, Cornwall TR20 9HD to arrange an interview or Email Press Officer.

Forthcoming Meetings

The next monthly Chamber Meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 3rd 2001 at the Queens Hotel, The Promenade, Penzance at 7.30pm.

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PENZANCE - THE PLACE TO BE

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