Rochdale Town Centre Management Column

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Halloween is nearly here and if you’re looking for something to do with the kids then look no further than our shopping centres here in Rochdale Town Centre.  In the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre on Saturday 27 October at 3pm there is a ‘Witches and Cats’ fancy dress competition, with a first prize of £50 worth of vouchers to spend in the Centre.  There will be two age groups, 0-10s and 10s and over.  You can also take part in the ‘Trick or Treat Trail’ around the Centre, looking in the shop windows to find the special Halloween objects.  In addition, you can spot the ten ghouls hidden in the Wheatsheaf Centre before Tuesday 30 October.  Pick up a form today and get searching- you could win a cauldron full of goodies!

Rochdale Exchange in conjunction with Happy Car Wash Services is pleased to announce their fantastic new hand car wash and valet service.  Why not take advantage of this super service now available in level 2 of the Exchange Car Park and have your car cleaned whilst you shop.  Prices start from as little as £4.99.

There are also two new businesses in the Exchange; Diamonds and Pearls selling fashion jewellery and hair accessories.  This is a new company that has been trading for just over 12 months and Rochdale is their 50th store.  The Tasty Sweet Corn barrow is now open near to the Customer Care Kiosk and Market entrance.   Delicious and healthy freshly steamed corn sweet corn with melted butter and choice of spices e.g. chilli, black pepper, Bar B Q, lemon.

Don’t forget the yearly Funfair will return to the Town Hall Square on Friday 2 November to Monday 5th November this year. The extravagant Fireworks Display will take place on Monday 5th at 6.30pm.  For the best view of the fireworks please congregate in the square facing the Post Office.

Rochdale Network Enterprise

This week I wish to inform you of a fantastic service that is available here in Rochdale.  Rochdale Enterprise offers support to aspiring entrepreneurs, to help start or grow new-start and existing businesses and generate more employment for local people. They can offer a spectrum of support ranging from: confidence building, training, business planning, marketing and sales, financial management and forecasting, networking, inter-trading, procurement and supply chain support.

Last year they helped 130 new businesses to begin trading and many more existing businesses to grow, and were a sponsor of our recent hugely successful Town Centre Business Awards. Below is a taster of just some of the businesses that have been helped over the past year.

Women’s Enterprise Initiative Case Study

Marjorie Thompson runs Chantilly in the town centre, selling high quality lingerie, swimwear and nightwear, including post-mastectomy and maternity ranges. With more than 23 years experience, their professional fitting service draws customers from all over the North West.

Chantilly is fast outgrowing its Cheetham Street premises and Marjorie plans to expand next door. She has sought advice from the Women’s Enterprise Initiative (WEI) team and joined its 400-strong network of local businesswomen.

Marjorie explains, “WEI has helped me look into funding opportunities and the network allows me to share good practice and contacts with like-minded women in the Borough.”

To find out more about how the Women’s Enterprise Initiative can help your business, call Jane on 01706 646471 or drop in to the office at 99-101 Drake Street, Rochdale to make an appointment.

Acorn Enterprise Factory Case Study

Lotus Defence is a new Rochdale organisation based at the Acorn Enterprise Factory on Spotland Road.  The business, which addresses Conflict Resolution and Personal Safety issues for the general public and corporate organisations, is aimed at increasing awareness and teaching simple effective techniques in self-defence. Liz Davies and Djamila Swindells, the company Directors, are both qualified karate and self-defence instructors with over 7 years experience.

Business Advisors at Acorn Enterprise Factory are continuing to support Lotus Defence in providing ongoing support and advice to develop their business, and by providing an office base that is rent free for 6 months.

To find out more about the support available at Acorn Enterprise Factory, call Christine on 01706 719689 or drop in to the office at Acorn Enterprise Factory, 115 Spotland Road, Rochdale to make an appointment.

Social Enterprise Case Study

A year ago 'Fair For All' co-operative opened a stall on Rochdale Market selling Fairtrade goods. Saturday 6 October saw the business’s first anniversary and the Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Councillor and Mrs Evans, and MPs Jim Dobbin and Paul Rowen joined members of the co-operative and their customers to celebrate the stall's success.
Fair For All promotes and sells fairly traded goods each Saturday on the Market. There will be two stalls up to Christmas, one for food items and another for non-food and gifts. Fair For All also takes products for sale to community groups and events as requested, provides speakers about Fair Trade, and supplies products on wholesale basis.
Fair For All has been supported by the Social Enterprise Project. Jan said: ‘We’ve had encouragement, business advice, funding advice, a place to meet, ideas to try, and rules for running the co-operative.  As a member of the Social Enterprise Forum, we’ve had opportunities for networking and trade with other social enterprises.

For more information on the Social Enterprise Project contact Andrew Jessop on 01706 764808, or drop into the office at 14/16 Newgate, Rochdale to make an appointment.

Dates for your Diary

• Rochdale Exchange Halloween Events – Saturday 27 October
• Town Centre Fireworks Display – Monday 5 November 6.30pm
• Rochdale Town Centre Christmas Lights Switch-On – Thursday 15 November 6pm, The Butts
• Rochdale’s Christmas Market – Thursday 29 November to Saturday 1 December, The Butts

For further details call 01706 926676.
 
And last but not least, Debbie O’Brien, Rochdale Town Centre Manager, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Malachi Kelen Hernon on Thursday 4 October.  The rest of the team here at Town Centre Management wish them both very well.

Suzy Woods
Marketing, Events and Promotions Officer