Penzance Chamber of Commerce

Penzance online wins world-wide plaudits

Penzance OnLine - http://www.penzance.co.uk - the Chamber of Commerce sponsored Internet web site, has attracted global attention and comment. Glowing reports from users as far afield as Hong Kong, Australia, USA and Europe have sent E-mails making comments such as: 'world class!' 'well laid out', 'quick to access', 'provides tons of information', and even go on to remark that 'the tone used in the text and images very well conveys the area's history and heritage as well as what's going on to-day.'

Anyone accessing the Penzance OnLine web site cannot not fail to be impressed by the numbers of shops in the town centre, nor by the choice and diversity of products listed as being available in the town. That information together with all the other commercial service suppliers listed and the mass of Tourism and Recreational information and photographic material the web site contains, make it obvious that the town still maintains its traditional position as the premier Cornish market town and tourist centre.

Free online translation facilities available elsewhere on the Internet, enable the web pages to be automatically translated into one of five languages. Businesses such as Hotels & Guest-Houses can, in effect, advertise to their clients in their clients' own language - something a brochure written in English does not accomplish.

In the United States, where there are 60 million Internet users, it is widely believed that any retailer or agency that does not promote products and services on the Internet will run the risk of going out of business within five years. In the UK there are about 8 million Internet users and catalogue shopping, on-line banking, travel booking, books, CD records, insurance and even medicines are readily available to end-users.

The Internet therefore provides manufacturers and major service suppliers with an opportunity to deal directly with end-user customers - thus cutting out the middleman. The potential threat posed by on-line shopping is one of a number of reasons why the Penzance Chamber of Commerce constructed a web site for the benefit of the town and its community - Penzance OnLine - http://www.penzance.co.uk.

We believe that it has become necessary for smaller traders to be able to use the global Internet at reasonable cost in order to promote themselves and their products and to do so in a manner that provides a focus on the town from which we can all benefit.

The site does not compete, nor does it aim to compete, with any other web sites promoting the businesses of the town; nor will it be necessary to duplicate existing pages on other websites. Web pages on other host computers can easily be interconnected to the Penzance web site. Indeed, the cost of such links can be as little £25 per year. Remember - you don't have to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce to make use of the web site facilities. It is there for the benefit of all - but especially for the economic benefit of the town of Penzance and its residents.

Anyone wishing to discuss the possibility of linking an existing web site through the Chamber of Commerce web site - which is open to ALL traders - should contact Patrick French - tel: 01736-363434, or Richard Hilder of Bocaina Business Services - tel: 01736-365589.

Penzance Guide to be distributed

The 1999 Penzance Guide has been printed and is about to be distributed. The Chamber would like to thank Yvonne Neale, Secretary, for her efforts in preparing the Guide for printing and Dennis Dowrick, Chairman, for the time he spent checking the details, six hours after a full day's work! Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Penzance Town Council and Penwith District Council both make valuable financial donations towards the cost of the Guide and the Chamber is very grateful for these all important contributions. The biggest 'Thank You' goes to Bryan Marshall, Hill Close, Heamoor for the really difficult job of checking the changes - who's moved, who's closed, who's opened, this can only be done by walking from one end of Penzance to the other and making notes along the way. If you think that's easy please apply for the task next year! In the meanwhile the Chamber really does appreciate Mr. Marshall's hard work on behalf of the 1999 Penzance Guide. Ta Bryan!

July Chamber meeting

Pauline Sheppard, Arts Development Officer for PDC, spoke at the July Chamber meeting of her plans to promote 'Street Scenes' during 2000, the Year of the Artist. Pauline wants to have a programme of art, music and theatre for Penzance and St Ives, one day a week from, say, July to September when our main streets could be the scene of entertainment and amusement. Pauline feels that good street entertainment stops the one tune merchants from driving everyone in their vicinity almost mad, a feeling we all know far too well. Pauline is open to suggestions and wants as much input from local people as possible so please contact her at PDC on 01736-364823, or via the Chamber on 01736-719222.

Area representatives

Following an idea by Howard Phillips and Mike Waters, it was agreed that Chamber members would represent different areas, details are:-

If you have something to discuss please contact the ahove at any time - they want to hear your opinions of what is happening, or you think should be happening, in our area.

Previous Newsletters

PENZANCE - THE PLACE TO BE

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