Local traders PLEASE read this thread

[wmrcomputers]

I've had a brief discussion with Admin about the production of a 3 fold A4 panflet titled "The STAFFORD FORUM guide to Local Services".
Admin thinks the idea is "Ingenious" (why, thank you Sir) and I wasn't planning on this in a hurry but have now decided to put the feelers out.

Now my basic plan is this.....
Local businesses who provide a service (ie Plumber, Electrician, Gardener etc.) share the cost of the printing (just £200 for 5000 copies). We also share the footwork of delivery. Purely as an example, 10 businesses would pay just £20 each and deliver 500 each (2 - 3 hours work, ideally on a Sunday when the door mat isn't littered with junk mail).

Not only would this be very good for the Forum, but it's the kind of leaflet that people keep safe for future reference.

Obviously there would need to be some discussion on certain issues, such as...
Do we allow multiples of the same type of business?
Do we use our existing knowledge of those interested or do we have voting pages to decide if they should be included?

I have an artwork layout in place for this and could knock up a home printed sample and get some images posted. I'm looking for comments / suggestions / interest.
Also, although (for example) a cake shop isn't a service, we could also allow 1 or 2 businesses to have their advertising on the reverse (still being a share in cost and footwork).

Get chatting

 

[KencoPlenco]

I've had a brief discussion with Admin about the production of a 3 fold A4 panflet titled "The STAFFORD FORUM guide to Local Services".
Admin thinks the idea is "Ingenious" (why, thank you Sir) and I wasn't planning on this in a hurry but have now decided to put the feelers out.

Now my basic plan is this.....
Local businesses who provide a service (ie Plumber, Electrician, Gardener etc.) share the cost of the printing (just £200 for 5000 copies). We also share the footwork of delivery. Purely as an example, 10 businesses would pay just £20 each and deliver 500 each (2 - 3 hours work, ideally on a Sunday when the door mat isn't littered with junk mail).

Not only would this be very good for the Forum, but it's the kind of leaflet that people keep safe for future reference.

Sounds like a great Idea, I would like to know what other services other staffordians are providing

Obviously there would need to be some discussion on certain issues, such as...
Do we allow multiples of the same type of business?
Do we use our existing knowledge of those interested or do we have voting pages to decide if they should be included?

there are quite a few business that are providing the same kind of service like you said, you could have a voting page or what about rotation of different services every month or 1/4 or 1/2 year so that different companies can have a chance in promoting their services in the panflet first come first serve? what you think?

 

[jpphotography]

Would you trade design of the leaflet for a small slot or mention?

 

[wmrcomputers]

It's a tricky one. In general there is one main person for each type of service on here who is recognised for their quality of work. AA Silencers is certainly the man for car repairs, Rikki is no doubt our gas / plumbing guy etc. I personally don't have a problem with multiples of the same service - there's nothing wrong with healthy competition. My only suggestion in keeping things fair is that advertisers must be a bona-fide trader (there are a few people who use skills for some extra pocket money on top of their day job but aren't registered as self employed - so I don't think it's fair for them to be a part of this personally)

As for a rotation of businesses - I don't think this panflet would be a quarterly issue. The idea is that people put it safe for future reference, so it would be annually at the most. Also, bear in mind that Stafford itself (not including the wider borough) had a population of 63,000 in 2001. No doubt that will have hugely increased since, and even back then must have been equivalent to around 15,000 homes. Based on that, we would be wiser hitting new door mats after so many months rather than repeating the same ones with a varied leaflet. Initially though we will only be hitting 5,000 door mats to see how it works. Only after a good 12 month period will advertisers (and the forum) know if it has been a valueable excercise worth repeating.

 

[KencoPlenco]

It's a tricky one. In general there is one main person for each type of service on here who is recognised for their quality of work. AA Silencers is certainly the man for car repairs, Rikki is no doubt our gas / plumbing guy etc. I personally don't have a problem with multiples of the same service - there's nothing wrong with healthy competition. My only suggestion in keeping things fair is that advertisers must be a bona-fide trader (there are a few people who use skills for some extra pocket money on top of their day job but aren't registered as self employed - so I don't think it's fair for them to be a part of this personally).

Yes it is a tricky one. what about food outlets as well or is it only for professional services like the stuff you have stated?

out of curiosity

 

[wmrcomputers]

Would you trade design of the leaflet for a small slot or mention?

Are you Stafford based yourself? If so, then I would be happy to come to an arrangement as long as Admin has no quabble with this.
I'm thinking of making it a half fold leaflet now with the title (and basic info) about the forum on the front, the guide to services inside, and space for 4 advertisers on the rear. I will use 1 of the rear advertising spaces for my cloud storage advert (paying my share of printing and footwork). If you can come up with an appropriate design I would accept that your own advert takes up another slot on the rear with your payment being in the form of the design work.

@Admin - please contribute any thoughts on this

 

[wmrcomputers]

Yes it is a tricky one. what about food outlets as well or is it only for professional services like the stuff you have stated?

out of curiosity

As it would be a guide to services, this wouldn't be right advertising food outlets within the actual guide, but obviously this could still be had as an advertisement on the rear. The same rules would apply though, where such an advertiser would need to not only pay their share of printing cost, but also the foot work in delivering them. Keep it in mind that this isn't a profitable venture, it's a joint effort in effectively sharing a unique advertising opportunity.

 

[KencoPlenco]

As it would be a guide to services, this wouldn't be right advertising food outlets within the actual guide, but obviously this could still be had as an advertisement on the rear. The same rules would apply though, where such an advertiser would need to not only pay their share of printing cost, but also the foot work in delivering them. Keep it in mind that this isn't a profitable venture, it's a joint effort in effectively sharing a unique advertising opportunity.

Ok Great, I will have to get back to you on this

 

[jpphotography]

Are you Stafford based yourself? If so, then I would be happy to come to an arrangement as long as Admin has no quabble with this.
I'm thinking of making it a half fold leaflet now with the title (and basic info) about the forum on the front, the guide to services inside, and space for 4 advertisers on the rear. I will use 1 of the rear advertising spaces for my cloud storage advert (paying my share of printing and footwork). If you can come up with an appropriate design I would accept that your own advert takes up another slot on the rear with your payment being in the form of the design work.

@Admin - please contribute any thoughts on this

Yes live and work in Stafford. All very exciting!

 

[AA Silencers]

I'm up for that. as a business I want to say that we should only include one type of each service but personally I'm not sure that's fair. The people of Stafford should be allowed to see what services are available to them and make their own choices, so long as they're all small independent businesses. It could even be worth a trip around the town centre asking if any of the small businesses are interested in joining, and asking forumites for suggestions of local traders who could be contacted as possible advertisers. If their services come from recommendations then they should have the opportunity to go in. The more services and traders who are included the more likely the leaflet/brochure will be kept for reference. Would Admin consider a web based version if enough traders get on board? It would help keep business on the forum away from the personal posts. Whoever does the leg work (I'm thinking of you wmr) getting businesses on board deserves a cut for their efforts. I like this idea, there's mileage in it if it get's enough support from enough small traders. Count me in.

 

[Admin]

@Admin - please contribute any thoughts on this

I'm not sure what to say, to be honest! It's your endeavour, wmrcomputers, so it's all up to you, really.

I just mentioned in my PM that I thought it was a good idea. I can't really comment with regards to the content, as The Forum can't really be seen to favour any particular person/business.

Who appears on it would depend on how many businesses you intend to list, and the reputation of that business, I suppose.

 

[wmrcomputers]

Cheers AA - I'll count you in!

@Admin - The reason for me wanting your input and involvement to a certain degree is this...
I could do this as a solo venture getting local small traders on board, but wanted to title it as "Stafford Forum guide to.." for two reasons. Firstly, I know how much effort the running of the forum is for you and how it has recently cost you from your own pocket to upgrade it. The forum has also hugely helped many of us small traders out and brought us in work and no doubt will continue to do so, therefore it's a thank you from us all to whom that applies.
Secondly, as it would be "The Stafford Forum guide to..." it could also give people a chance to see the great comments that other local people have made about us, and almost act as a character reference for a prospective new customer.

However - this leaves a small problem. A guide to local tradesmen needs to be just that. For me personally to keep it safe, I would expect it to have most trades you can think of.
I know the forum has a Gas / Plumber man, a computer technician, mechanics etc. But where do we stand with a painter / decorator, gardener, electrician etc.?

I suppose it could possibly be done on a voting system from forumites. If we don't have our own Electrician (purely as an example), then maybe forumites could suggest a local tradesman they've used and trust and then I contact them to explain and get their interest??

Hmmmm.... on that note is it going to be too difficult to plan on a forum approved basis? Am I making this too complicated (the wife says I'm good at that). Could a tradesman bring the forum name into disrepute? Would it be better just to put a staffordforum mention or advert on the back?

So many thoughts and approaches!!

 

[wmrcomputers]

I can't really comment with regards to the content, as The Forum can't really be seen to favour any particular person/business. Who appears on it would depend on how many businesses you intend to list, and the reputation of that business, I suppose.

Re-reading this part of your post has made me re-think. Although a good idea in principal, this could massively cause problems regarding favouritism / disrepute etc.

I'll therefore run with this on a private venture level, but will still ensure there is a slot of advertising for the forum included.

AA Silencers - assuming you are still interested, I will contact you in due course. (PM me if not the case please)

If any other tradesmen would like to register their interest, please contact me via PM or email at mail@wmrcomputers.co.uk

 

[Rikki]

Sounds like a good idea to me. There is something similar that goes out round wildwood/baswich/walton. It would be good to link it to the forum, but I can see how this could be difficult while retaining admins impartiality.

 

[wmrcomputers]

Would you like me to put you down as a "possible" then my friend?

 

[Admin]

Re-reading this part of your post has made me re-think. Although a good idea in principal, this could massively cause problems regarding favouritism / disrepute etc.

This is my main concern, to be honest, and the only fly in the ointment. I would love to see a "Stafford Forum guide to recommended local services," or similar, for all of the reasons mentioned above, but we would need to make sure there is a definite selection process in place to avoid any possible faux pas!

I know how much effort the running of the forum is for you and how it has recently cost you from your own pocket...

Thank you, wmrcomputers; it's nice to know that my efforts don't go unnoticed, and that they are appreciated by Forumites at large.

 

[AA Silencers]

I'm still up for it. I think we/you would need to get the word to more local traders and businesses. Maybe a newspaper article? I'm sure they'd be happy to do something along the lines of 'local businesses stand together to produce 'not for profit' booklet'. That sort of thing. I understand the need for the Forum to keep it's distance, it's just a shame. It's the perfect vehicle for identifying trustworthy traders. It's also a 2 way street as some traders may feel at risk from an odd angry customer coming along and making out like they're a disreputable business when all they've done is made a mistake. I know generally the forum members are better balanced than that but some businesses may feel it's a risk.
The other obstacle I see is people apathy, we British seem to be great at it. I wonder if even the small traders who may be struggling at the moment still won't get behind this sort of thing even if it only costs a few pounds. I guess it's worth getting the word around and seeing what the response is.

 

[wmrcomputers]

Well so far I've emailed many small traders and businesses without a single response as of yet. We'll have to see what happens, but I may consider your newspaper article thing above.

It's tricky as I have no real way of verifying legitimacy of any trader, or indeed their reputation. I've also wondered whether a "discount voucher booklet" might be a more enticing way to go?

 

[Gramaisc]

The coppers are looking for leaflet distribution - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-18369038 - amongst other things.