Shop occupancy outperforms London and the UK

Wimbledon Town Centre outperforms London and the UK again

With so much said about the struggling ‘High Street’, it is always good to get some cheer in the winter months. Wimbledon Town Centre has again outperformed London and the UK with lower shop vacancy rates. This is good news for businesses and visitors to Wimbledon and highlights why Wimbledon is so often a first choice of location for growing brands. With a strong, cohesive night time economy, an accessible range of eateries and a variety of family entertainment alongside a reduction in crime – Wimbledon really is a town centre that we are proud to shout about.

GDPR countdown…

Like many other businesses, Love Wimbledon is preparing for the new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) which comes into effect on 25 May 2018

Here are our top tips for this month:

  • Have you informed key people in your businesses about the changes? (IT, marketing, HR, Directors)
  • Have you carried out an initial audit on where and how you store personal data?
  • Have you created a plan for managing personal data after the May 25 deadline?

If you don’t think your business is on track and needs additional support, then join the next GDPR training workshop in Wimbledon on Thursday 15 March run by our partners, Merton Chamber of Commerce.

As part of our preparation, Love Wimbledon will be contacting you to make sure you still want to receive emails from us. Without your consent we will have to remove your details from our listings.

Love Wimbledon Business Survey 2018

We would really like all of our Wimbledon businesses to take part in this survey to help us find out what businesses think is working well in Wimbledon and what needs improvement. So if it’s about CR2, cleanliness or staff retention – you can have your say and share your view right now.

Take part in our survey here, it takes around 5 minutes to complete.

THE SURVEY CLOSES ON 12 MARCH.

Thank you,

Love Wimbledon Team

Reduced rates on waste and recycling collections with First Mile

Love Wimbledon BID businesses get reduced rates on waste & recycling collections with First Mile

Love Wimbledon is aware that many businesses are struggling to get their recycling and general waste collected on a regular basis. All Love Wimbledon BID businesses are entitled to a reduced rate on both collections, with some also entitled to a proportion of free recycling bags. Khanage Tandoori Kitchen is just one of the businesses that has recently switched to First Mile, and is now reaping the benefit:

“Before moving to First Mile,  we suffered numerous missed commercial waste collections. Since signing up to First Mile, both our recycling and general waste are collected on a regular basis at a time which suits us best. I am very pleased to say that missed collections are now a rarity, having one provider for both recycling and refuse has provided a more efficient service, as well as saving us money.”

To get a free quote for recycling and general waste, please contact First Mile on 0800 612 9894 or email Josie.deMetzLydon@Thefirstmile.co.uk or Rosie.Higgins@Thefirstmile.co.uk

Love Wimbledon provides a range of money saving services for BID businesses, with many of our businesses saving more than their BID levy.

Crossrail 2 update

Government reiterates commitment to Crossrail 2

As part of the Autumn Budget, the Government reiterated its commitment to Crossrail 2 with the announcement of an independent funding and finance review, due to take place this year. Affordability remains the project’s most pressing issue, so it is important to identify ways to deliver the scheme for less and get value for taxpayers’ money.

The Crossrail 2 team have recently assured us they remain committed to undertaking a full public consultation on updated proposals once the funding review is complete. In the meantime they will continue to engage with local communities and businesses to further strengthen the close partnerships they have already established.

They will keep us informed of further progress on the scheme and in turn we will update you.

Please report crime – it could help keep police presence in Wimbledon!

Reporting ALL crime will keep Wimbledon on the map and not forgotten when it comes to utilising police resources

Working with the police, CCTV, businesses and Merton Council, Love Wimbledon has seen a decrease in the crime rate, bucking the national trend. Yet Merton Police still urges businesses to report all crime, however minor, as it may help to keep an active police presence in Wimbledon when the station closes.

Unlike many other town centres Wimbledon is fortunate to have a dedicated:

  • police team looking after us
  • 24hr CCTV control room
  • radio system (Town Link)
  • secure website (Littoralis) for sharing sensitive information

All retailers are urged to report any crimes including shop lifting and anti social behaviour, such as graffiti, begging, etc.

Non-emergency crime can be reported easily online at www.met.police.uk

Graffiti should be reported directly to Love Wimbledon by emailing info@lovewimbledon.org

Always dial 999 in an emergency.

“Wimbledon Town Centre police fully support and encourage retailers in the Love Wimbledon BID area to utilise both Townlink radio and the secure intelligence sharing website, Littoralis.

The use of both systems connects businesses, CCTV operators and police allowing fast time communication between each other to reduce criminal behavior. This partnership helps to assist in keeping the town centre a safe and secure environment to work and visit.

Since the more proactive approach and use of both systems, there has been a marked decrease in town centre crime over the last three months.”

– Chief Inspector Phil Palmer, Business Crime Reduction Manager, Merton Borough Police

 

 

The Darwin £10 note is almost extinct – are you ready?

Withdrawal of paper £10 note on 1 March

The Bank of England will withdraw legal tender status of the paper £10 note featuring Charles Darwin at 23:59 on Thursday 1 March 2018. This means that 1 March is the last day people can spend their paper £10 notes. With 1 month to go, all businesses that handle cash need to plan and prepare for the change.

After 1 March 2018, businesses and the public no longer have to accept the Darwin £10 note as payment or in change and the new polymer note featuring Jane Austen will be the only £10 note with legal tender status.

The Bank of England is encouraging retailers and businesses to follow the steps outlined in the checklist below ahead of 1 March 2018.

For more details and to ensure your business and employees are prepared please visit the Bank of England.

CHECKLIST: How to prepare your business

  • Alert your customers
    Make your customers aware of the withdrawal date by displaying communications in visible locations such as a pharmacy counter or till point
  • Train your staff
    An A4 poster is available to support staff training on withdrawal and available to download or order, free of charge
  • Clear out your safes
    Start banking your paper £10s now, the last day to use paper £10 notes is the 1 March 2018
  • Update your machines
    Ensure you know which cash handling machines are being operated by your business and check whether an adaptation is required with your supplier to stop dispensing paper £10 notes after 1 March 2018
  • Check your note supply arrangement with your bank to understand whether they will continue to accept paper £10 notes after the withdrawal date
  • Manage your customers’ expectations
    If you have not been able to adapt your machines to stop dispensing paper £10 notes before the 1 March 2018, have a process in place so that customers can exchange old notes if they are dispensed in change

Some banks and building societies may accept paper £10 notes after 1 March 2018 but this is at their own discretion. The Bank of England will continue to exchange Darwin £10 notes for all time, as it would for any other Bank of England note which no longer has legal tender status.

Neptune Wimbledon celebrates first birthday

Neptune Wimbledon turns 1

The iconic and award-winning British interiors brand opened its doors on The Broadway last year and is celebrating with an in-store party on Saturday 10 February.

The celebrations will continue in spring with the launch of their new season.

Founded in 1996 by friends John Sims-Hilditch and Giles Redman, Neptune is an interiors retailer recognised for its exacting standards, design-led aesthetic and expert craftsmanship.