It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club!
The second in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is an After Work Drinks event on February 23 from 5.30pm. Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district, get your tickets now by clicking or tapping here.
Three independent businesses in Harrogate , Husk beer emporium, Thug Sandwich Co and Pizza Social, have decided to collaborate to help each other out.
Customers at Husk beer emporium can get food delivered from Thug Sandwich Co or Pizza Social to enjoy in Husk’s James Street store.
The scheme is expected to be particularly popular on Wednesday’s quiz nights, where teams will be able to get pizzas delivered to eat while they compete in the quiz.
Husk’s location on James Street, just round the corner from Thug Sandwich Co, led to the two independents getting in touch and deciding to work together.
The three businesses discussed the idea over social media before putting the plan into action.
Danny James, co-owner and manager of Husk, said:
“With the Increasing energy bills, looming rising prices across the board etc we’ve recently teamed up with Thug Sandwich Co and Pizza Social…
This supports all 3 indies by increasing traffic to our bar whilst providing Thug and Pizza Social more remote seating at our place and hopefully more orders for their very awesome food offerings!”
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Harrogate BID reaches final of national In Bloom competition
Harrogate BID has reached the finals of the 2023 RHS Britain in Bloom UK competition.
The business organisation has been selected for its Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration, and will compete in the BIDS, Town Centres & City Centres category. Harrogate BID was named regional winner in the category last year.
Installation part of the floral summer of celebration
The summer of celebration featured a floral trail, an indoor exhibition, and a shop window competition. This was in addition to the 200 barrier baskets, shop doorway planters and hanging baskets around the town centre.
Harrogate BID Manager, Matthew Chapman, said:
“Harrogate is famed as a floral town, and over the years has won many accolades – regional, national and international. Our floral campaign, delivered by BID Project Manager Jo Caswell, was designed to celebrate our floral heritage.
It was brilliant to partner with a number of different businesses and organisations, including Blamey’s Florist, Harrogate Theatre, The Turkish Baths, Harrogate Library, Harrogate in Bloom and Harrogate Spring Flower Show, all of whom contributed to its success.”
The winners of the In Bloom awards will be announced at a ceremony in October.
Knaresborough shop owner’s appeal brings support after tough summer weeksA Knaresborough business owner said she has been overwhelmed by the response to a video she posted about how quiet her shop has been this summer.
Laura Dudley, who runs Painting Pots, put up the video of her miming to Celine Dion’s All By Myself on social media last week.
While it showed her singing the lyrics in a light-hearted way, there was a serious message behind it: the shop was extremely quiet.
Laura told the Stray Ferret:
“What has hit us and probably a lot of businesses is that last summer we were spoilt. No-one could go away outside the UK, and Knaresborough is a tourist hot-spot, so we were busy.
“After last summer, we thought we would be busy this year, but everyone has gone on holiday and the sun has been out so families are finding lovely things to do outside.
“It’s such a stark contrast to last summer.”
Laura said her business is always seasonal, with peaks around events including Christmas, Easter, and Mother’s Day. Yet even taking this into account, it has been so quiet recently that there have been weeks when she has been unable to pay herself a wage.
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The response to the video, however, has seen trade pick up significantly in just a few days.
As well as people coming into the shop last week, Laura said many others were booking for further ahead, even up to October and November.
It gave her some reassurance after several weeks of only having last-minute bookings. She said:
“I think it was just a case of reminding people. They sometimes think we’re always up to something and we will be busy, but it’s not the case at the moment.
“It was nice to tell people I’m here and we’re headed towards an unknown time.
“I’ve had so many lovely messages, some of them from people that don’t even live nearby. It’s a nice reminder as to why I do what I do.”
As well as support from customers, Laura said she has been given some tips on how to increase footfall over the coming weeks and months.
From speaking to local B&B owners about inviting their visitors to the shop, to increasing her social media posting, Laura said she is now making plans for the rest of the summer and autumn to try to keep the business busy.
Laura’s elf outfit attracted some attention during the heatwave
Along with employee Sian and two part-time shop assistants, Laura said she is not afraid to do something “silly” to get attention – such as dressing in Christmas outfits during a heatwave in order to promote the shop’s festive offers.
She said customers are still able to take advantage of early bird discounts and spread the cost of Christmas presents by shopping early.
With the cost of living crisis set to worsen over the coming months, she has vowed to keep her prices low for as long as possible – and said Knaresborough is a great place to be during difficult times.
She added:
“We’re pulling together as a community and supporting our independent businesses.”