Penzance Chamber of Commerce

The last meeting of the Chamber raised the issue of the proposed speed bumps around Penzance. These are of some concern to traders, with many feeling that they may discourage shoppers to the town. Some residents too believe that some of the proposed sites don't show local knowledge as regards roads usage. Also mentioned was the environmental issue of extra fumes from vehicles that would be constantly changing gear instead of proceeding smoothly.

The Chamber would like to hear from business people and residents who have misgivings about the proposed speed bumps within their own immediate area. Please contact Dennis or Niki on 01736 330500.

Financial Support from Penwith

The last meeting heard that Penwith District Council's scheme to assist small retailers in deprived areas benefited small local businesses to the amount of Ł38,860 in the last financial year. A similar amount of financial help was forecast for the 2003-2004 period.

The scheme's aim is to offer assistance to small retailers in deprived areas by providing funds for a combination of improvements to the immediate environment of shops and enhanced security of the premises themselves. This latter improvement could mean the installation of CCTV and alarms, improved security lighting, better looks, toughened glass and similar additions.

The activities funded under this scheme are for the buying and installation of capital items only, however, and is not usable for funding costs. Funding priority will be given to Penzance West & West Wards. There will be a meeting at 2pm on Thursday 2nd November in Committee Room 1 at Penwith District Offices. If you wish to know more about the programme, contact Mrs T M Lees on 01736 336627 or email tamsin.lees@penwith.gov.uk

Chicken Run

Kentucky Fried Chicken are on the lookout for franchisees in the SW area. If you are interested in becoming the next on a long and successful list of world franchisees, the Alverton Manor Hotel, Truro is holding a meeting on Wednesday 25 September.

Those attending at 12.30 pm will receive more details and a buffet lunch. Roll up at 6pm and you'll get a drink with your talk. To confirm your booking call Fiona Stevenson on 01483-717211 or Fax 01483-717152.

Over-60s Skills Jamboree

There's a bit of an event round the corner for local over-60s. Penwith Senior Life Skills Exhibition offers information and inspiration for this age group at St John's Hall on Wednesday 2 October from 10 am to 4.30 pm. Visitors will garner useful advice and information on many salient health, security and recreational issues. Also promised are a number of displays by experts.

The Cornwall Fire Brigade will hold a demo in the car park, PDC's Food Safety Team will be on hand with food handling tips and there will be a Practical Fitness demonstration between 12.30 and 2.30 pm plus specific information on falls and strokes. Other exhibitors are the Sustainable Energy Partnership - SWEB, CAB, Care & Repair Handyperson Scheme, Age Concern, Red Cross, WRVS, Trading Standards, Penzance Women's Aid, PHA, Community Development Trust, PDC Information Technology Department, as well as many more.

It's all free, including refreshments, a medi-link information bag, an energy saving light bulb and entry into a prize draw. It just goes to prove that life truly begins at 60.

West Cornwall Group of Chambers of Commerce

West Cornwall Group of Chambers of Commerce stage a Commercial Exhibition at the Business School at Camborne on Thursday 29 October. Revels commence at 7 pm.

Make yourself safer

You can't be too safe. Penwith Neighbourhood Watch Trust has a vast range of home safety items up for sale, ranging from personal and property alarms to timers. All items available are offered at very reasonable rates. One look at your safety items and any respectable burglar will be considering an alternative career in bookbinding. For full details, contact Jan Garrison on 01736 351310.

Annual Dinner

The annual Chamber dinner will take place this year on Saturday, 5 October, 7.30 for 8 pm at the Bay Restaurant, Mount Prospect Hotel, Penzance. If your menu choices have not already been returned by the deadline of September 18 - then you'd better contact Yvonne on 01736 719222 by phone or fax. Otherwise you'll be stuck with the vegetarian lasagne and some cheese straws.

Moving times for Moonshine

Moonshine Framers have moved from Causeway-head to 36a Market Jew Street (fronting Bread Street/Wood St), Penzance to improve their already fine service. Why move to off-street premises, though? In a word - space. Moonshine have relocated into 2000 square feet in the heart of Penzance in a light and spacious gallery space. They have needed extra room for some time and when the premises became available with gallery space the decision to move was made.

The premises have been totally refurbished between May and August and Moonshine opened up with an exhibition, The Artists Choice, 2002, to a packed opening evening of artists, customers and guests on 3 September. A respectable number of paintings were sold during the exhibition.

Moonshine charge only 25% commission to artists who frame with them and handle all credit and debit card transactions for the artists. The new gallery allows them to host artists exhibitions and sell their ranges of local pictures and prints along with their well-established picture framing, which now boasts customers all over the UK. Further exhibitions are now being arranged for the rest of the year.

With local art available from under Ł4 to over Ł4000, Moonshine have something to suit everyone. Hundreds of small ready-made clearance and photo frames are always available too. Moonshine have four picture framers, working to fine art trade guild specifications in their fully equipped workshops. They also offer a One-Hour framing service for a small charge.

Moonshine's current priority is catching up with work which they were having difficulty keeping up with in their old, smaller workshops. They certainly now have the space, with each framing operation having its own area and staff, even a 2.4 metre high machine that cuts glass. Most of the workshop equipment is pneumatic, driven by almost silent compressors so that little noise goes through to the shop & gallery. Experienced framers are always on hand to help out with any tricky problems or 'projects'.

Although many traditional skills are required -particularly for the hand finishes, limed and colour-washed frames- rumour has it that the framers will not be satisfied until their workspace resembles the Borg Ship. The equipment is very specialised to the framing trade and includes machines to accurately guillotine the mitres to join mouldings, machines to under-pin the corners from behind with special V-Nails or 'wedges', pneumatic guns to pin the backs in place, garage style air sprays to clear the glass of any dust and machines to cut mounts and the many types of board.

When fitting out the gallery importance was placed on security as well as presenting pictures for people to see without being interrupted by the busy framing counter. So CCTV has been installed and the framing counter now displays a larger range of frame mouldings with carpeted top and measuring area to protect customers' jobs and allow plenty of storage for completed jobs awaiting collection. Some people take advantage of the One Hour service and just browse the gallery and prints areas, or go to the Wharfside over the road. Most people leave their pictures with Moonshine and collect when convenient. One week turnaround is usually booked for a made-to-measure frame, but they often frame same day or next day in many cases, if required.

All specialised finishing is done on the premises. Natural timber, stained, limed, waxed or colour washed, is stored in the workshops, and much of it is specially made for Moonshine so they need plenty of storage to buy in the quantities required. They also stock Slater Harrison Colourmount mount boards and offer a mount cutting service and also a mount cutting/fit/wrap service for artists who supply local galleries. A lot of Moonshine's work comes from local artists, as do the pictures for sale in the gallery. They also stock an ever-changing range of prints, framed or mounted, from leading publishers and some from quality local artists.

You can buy prints and mounted art cards by Nigel Hallard, John Miller, Jack Vettriano, photographs, archive photographs of the local area stainless steel sculpture from Bill Penaluna, limited edition and signed prints (some exclusive) old prints and plenty of contemporary picture: and frames to suit every taste and pocket. Moonshine Framing is easy to find, oppositie Pebbles on Market Jew Street or opposite the Crown Inn down Bread Street. Tel 01736 330887 email info@frames.uk.com, web site www.frames.uk.com.

New Members

Mrs. Emma Tod, Todlins, The Deck House, Valley Road, Carbis Bay, TR26 2QS Phone 01736 798303. ruth@psapions.demon.co.uk Children's music sessions.
Jane, David & Geoff Costin, Palm Restaurant & Wine Bar - 4/6 New Rd, Newlyn, TR18 5PZ. Phone 01736 363446.
Mu's Mouse, Cave Lane, Mousehole, TR19 6SW. Phone 01736 731277 Fax 01736 732462.
K&M Curtis markcurtis@emandemltd.com. Legal & Business administration and marketing consultations.

Join the Chamber

The Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of local business with the County, District and Town Councils, Government agencies and public bodies. It actively campaigns on issues affecting the business community as well as issues affecting the community as a whole. This requires finances and direct involvement by committed people, and deserves the support of every business in the region.

Our Chairman is coordinator of the West Cornwall Group of Chambers and the Cornwall Business Partnership. He is a member of the Priority Management Group 3, which approves Objective One funding in the area of Learning and Skills development He is also a member of the Penzance Regeneration Steering Group that has worked on the submission of an Objective One bid to greatly enhance the prosperity of the town and its inhabitants. Other members represent the Chamber on such bodies as the Police Consultative Committee and Tourism Committee.

All businesses have problems from time to time, and it has been proved that representation from a Chamber Officer on behalf of the member concerned can greatly enhance the prospect of a satisfactory conclusion. With major issues, such as the Penzance Regeneration Project, West Cornwall Hospital, Objective One and so on needing input from the business community there has never been a better reason for all businesses to become Chamber members - the greater our membership, the bigger our voice. JOIN NOW!

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.

Forthcoming Meetings

The next monthly Chamber Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 1st 2002 at the Queens Hotel, The Promenade, Penzance at 7.30pm.

The Voice of Business in West Cornwall

Chamber Monthly News - September 2002

Speed Bumps in Penzance