Liphook will be full of festive spirit this December as Liphook Business Initiative is launching its first Christmas Window Competition and Children’s Treasure Hunt

Local traders have been invited to participate in a competition to find the best dressed Christmas Window and the number of entries has been very encouraging. Event organiser, Andrew Meech from Liphook Travel said ‘the aim of the competition is to create a fantastic festive display for the village. It’s not about winning but about making Liphook look great for Christmas. The more entries we have the better the village will look’. Membership of Liphook Business Initiative is not compulsory to join in the fun although the organization is currently free to become a member.

The Window Competition will take place on Monday 12 December 2011 and alongside it will run a Treasure Hunt for the children of the village. Each entered window will contain a named Christmas Character to identify and the winner will receive a fantastic £40 Toy Voucher kindly sponsored by Flowers in the Avenue and two runner up prizes by A3 Sports.

The Treasure Hunt will run from 12th – 18 December 2011 giving families plenty of time to spot the festive figures and at the same time making them aware of the host of retail opportunities they have in the village of Liphook.

Entry forms for the Treasure Hunt will be available in due course and entry details will be made available on www.liphookbusiness.co.uk where traders can also find details of the Window Competition.

For further information please contact Andrew Meech at Liphook Travel.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AND PRINT A CHILDRENS TREASURE HUNT FORM

Together we can make Liphook look fantastic for Christmas!

Liphook is steeped in history and plans for Liphook’s Christmas Festivities will include a Christmas Window competition in December, open to all traders, organized by Andrew Meech of Liphook Travel. There are plans for a children’s treasure hunt involving historical personages connected with the town. Special competition prizes are being organized.

Sumi Olson of Olson Sales & Marketing Services, who chairs the Liphook Business Initiative, said: “We have a good number of diverse small traders in the village, some of whom are home-based but all of whom give a really good service. We’d like remind local residents that we are here and encourage more trade in Headley Road, Station Road and the Square. There are two community web-portals, which we’d also encourage residents to visit.”

LBI also introduced the second in a new series of marketing training talks designed to give practical support to local retailers and other
businesses. Public relations consultant, Keren Burney of Compege, based in Liss gave an insightful, yet hands-on presentation about the ins and outs of writing press releases, working with the media and how to tell when you have a good news story that needs to be heard.

The next training support event will be an intensive marketing and copywriting event on Wednesday morning, 19^th October. Tickets are VAT free Details at http://www.copywritingmasterclass.eventbrite.com.

Our next LBI Networking Event will be at the Black Fox on Thursday 29th September 2011 f

This meeting we’re going to launch a public campaign that is aimed to bring LBI businesses into the heart of the Liphook and encourage our community to use LBI member services in the run up to Christmas.

We’ll be supporting members with training and resources to help them promote their services effectively and increase their visibility.

With only three months before Christmas, we’re setting up a number of high profile sales opportunities for members so we hope you’ll be able to attend on 29th September and get involved.

If you would like to become a member of Liphook Business initiative please click here

Release Date:- 27 June 2011

After changeable weather all week, the heavens cleared to offer blue skies and radiant sunshine over a very popular Liphook Business Initiative MidSummer BBQ held recently at the Liphook Church Centre, off Portsmouth Road.

The well-attended social event gave business owners and their staff the chance to unwind in an informal environment, enjoy relaxing conversation, food & drink, and take a well-deserved break from work. Jugs of free Pimms donated by The General Wine Company helped raise the banter and added to the party atmosphere.

Chef for the night, Geoff Kerr from Flowers in the Avenue, worked hard cooking tasty burgers and hot dogs, (rolls donated by Liphook Bakery). Members were treated to excellent Nepalese dishes courtesy of The Ghurka Chautari. To end the evening, members queued up for delicious home-made ice cream provided free by Ben Govier of Dylan’s Ice Cream and still found room for an excellent Eton Mess made by Daisy from Number 26 Café in The Square, Liphook.

Alistair Wilkinson from Lighthouse Financial Advice said of the event “It was a very relaxed and enjoyable evening giving the opportunity to meet with fellow business owners in the Liphook area”

Entry included a Raffle Ticket for a Prize Draw which took place towards the end of the evening. Fantastic prizes were generously provided by other LBI Members including Escada Hair & Beauty, Art Work, PRC Digital Ltd, Liphook Motors, Number 26 Café, Peep Inside, and Flowers in the Avenue. John Goodson, Insurance Services (Surrey) Ltd said “An excellent evening, well organised, good food from generous sponsors and even gooseberry ripple ice cream courtesy of Dylan’s! More than that, however, is seeing just what a friendly and proactive business community thrives in Liphook.”

With 85+ members, the Liphook Business Initiative (LBI) is open to all businessesregistered within the Bramshott & Liphook Parish area. Members come from allsize of business: sole-traders, home-based businesses, retailers, SMEs, andcorporations. Membership is currently free and allows business owners to developkey relationships and grow their business cost-effectively.

To keep up with LBI news and updates, members can log onto the website, within a LinkedIn Discussion Group (Liphook Business Initiative).

Recently the LBI offered a Training & Networking Evening on ‘Social Media for Small Business’. Further Evenings are planned, offering members access to business training & support, as well as networking opportunities with the wider business community. Other Social Nights, including a Christmas Party at the Old Thorns will also take place over the coming months.

The LBI is committed to extending the range of networking events, business support, and information for members. The LBI Panel would like to hear from any member who feels they can be of help. Please contact the Panel via  www.liphookbusiness.co.uk

The well-attended social event gave business owners and their staff the chance to unwind in an informal environment, enjoy relaxing conversation, food & drink, and take a well-deserved break from work.

Jugs of free Pimms donated by The General Wine Company helped raise the banter and added to the party atmosphere. Chef for the night, Geoff Kerr from Flowers in the Avenue, worked hard cooking tasty burgers and hot dogs, (rolls donated by Liphook Bakery).

Members were treated to excellent Nepalese dishes courtesy of The Ghurka Chautari. To end the evening, members queued up for delicious home-made ice cream provided free by Ben Govier of Dylan’s Ice Cream and still found room for an excellent Eton Mess made by Daisy from Number 26 Café in The Square, Liphook.

Alistair Wilkinson from Lighthouse Financial Advice said of the event “It was a very relaxed and enjoyable evening giving the opportunity to meet with fellow business owners in the Liphook area” Entry included a Raffle Ticket for a Prize Draw which took place towards the end of the evening. Fantastic prizes were generously provided by other LBI Members including Escada Hair & Beauty, Art Work, PRC Digital Ltd, Liphook Motors, Number 26 Café, Peep Inside, and Flowers in the Avenue.

John Goodson, Insurance Services (Surrey) Ltd said “An excellent evening, well organised, good food from generous sponsors and even gooseberry ripple ice cream courtesy of Dylan’s! More than that, however, is seeing just what a friendly and pro-active business community thrives in Liphook.”

With 85+ members, the Liphook Business Initiative (LBI) is open to all businesses registered within the Bramshott & Liphook Parish area. Members come from all size of business: sole-traders, home-based businesses, retailers, SMEs, and corporations. Membership is currently free and allows business owners to develop key relationships and grow their business cost-effectively.

To keep up with LBI news and updates, members can log onto the website, (www.liphookbusiness.co.uk), follow on twitter (@liphookbusiness) and engage within a LinkedIn Discussion Group (Liphook Business Initiative).

Recently the LBI offered a Training & Networking Evening on ‘Social Media for Small Business’. Further Evenings are planned, offering members access to business training & support, as well as networking opportunities with the wider business community. Other Social Nights, including a Christmas Party at the Old Thorns will also take place over the coming months.

The LBI went to see the new business facilities that the hotel has to offer and the group enjoyed a tour that included new up an coming features that Old Thorns will soon be opening.

This event was open to both LBI members and other local businesses to network.

Only LBI Members had the opportunity to present their business to the room, if they so wish to.

Our evenings are designed to allow maximum socialising and networking time to help create a sense of community amongst businesses in the GU30 area.

If you would like to introduce yourself and your services to the group, just mention this when you register so we can plan accordingly.

Whether you’re a one person or part a bigger business, our Networking Evenings are an opportunity to learn and share experiences amongst people who understand what you’re going through.

As part of the LBI’s commitment to offer value, we will have a guest speaker, Sumi Olson to speak on how businesses can use Social Media platforms to grow their business and increase their visibility.

Aware that businesses are under pressure to maximise their resources, Sumi will focus on ways that businesses and professionals can look use online tools to meet their goals and objectives.

18.00- 18.30 registration

18.30 19.15 an opportunity to present yourselves to the group and networking

19.15-19.45 Presentation: How to use Social Media to promote your business (includes Q&A session) Speaker: Sumi Olson, Olson Sales & Marketing Services

19.45 -21.00 networking and END

NB: If you would like to bring marketing material with you, please arrive in good time so it can be put on display, and please take surplus material with you.

NEWS RELEASE – 08 October 2010

LIPHOOK BUSINESS INITIATIVE LOOKS FORWARD TO 2011

An exciting future awaits the Liphook business community was the positive conclusion drawn by the Liphook Business Initiative members at their AGM last week. Despite the challenging economic climate, there was an optimistic atmosphere amongst members of the Liphook Business Initiative at the meeting held at Bramshott Social Club in Liphook.

In a review of a successful inaugural year, Committee member, Lee Stewart from Print It reported on the enthusiastic take up of membership from the Bramshott, Passfield, and Liphook business community. With over 75 members already, the Liphook Business Initiative is open to all businesses registered within the Bramshott & Liphook Parish area.

One of year’s big successes was the LBI Networking Evenings hosted at various locations throughout the area.

The Networking Evenings provide members with the opportunity to promote their businesses and make valuable connections, whilst allowing the hosts an opportunity to showcase their facilities and services. This year’s hosts have included The Green Dragon, the Gurkha Chautari and Old Thorns Manor Hotel

Further Networking Evenings are planned over the coming year, which will offer members access to training & support, as well as networking with the wider business community.

As part of the LBI’s role to promote local businesses, members were featured in LBI Business Packs containing leaflets, flyers or letters of introduction. The Packs have been distributed across the area, most recently at the Liphook Wine Fair organised by The General Wine Company. As a result of their popularity, further Business Packs are planned for 2011.

 LBI members are keen to forge strong relationships with the local community and this year, took up banner advertising at Liphook United Football Club. There are further plans to work with local organisations including the Liphook Carnival team over the coming months.

The LBI has set up various online opportunities for members to raise their profile, share knowledge, information and offer support. The LBI website, (www.liphookbusiness.co.uk) created by Matt Carroll of

MyWebsiteSpace.co.uk, currently features a members directory. At the meeting, Matt outlined exciting plans to upgrade the functionality of the website to include a searchable member directory.

With a twitter account (@liphookbusiness) and a LinkedIn Discussion Group (Liphook Business Initiative) in place, the LBI is looking forward to interacting with members and the wider business community. “This is a welcome innovation,” commented Sumi Olson of Olson Sales & Marketing Services, “as it will keep members and other business organisations up-to-date with forthcoming LBI events & promotions. By connecting with the wider business community online and at our networking events, we can share knowledge and information as well as raise the profile of Liphook Businesses.”

The dedication and hard work of the LBI Committee was acknowledged by the members present at the AGM. With a number of members offering to support the Committee’s work and become more involved, the LBI looks likely to provide members with even more value over the coming months.

The next Liphook Business Initiative event will be a Networking Evening to be held at Old Thorns Manor Hotel on Wednesday 20th  October starting at 6pm. This is a free event and as many members as possible are encouraged to take part. Members are requested to confirm their attendance at the meeting by email HERE

END

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A VERY SUCCESSFUL NETWORK NIGHT FOR THE LIPHOOK BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Liphook Business Initiative held a very successful Social Networking Meeting in the Lounge Bar at The Green Dragon, Liphook on Wednesday 17^th February.

The event was attended by in excess of 50 people representing a variety of businesses registered in the Bramshott & Liphook Parish.

Lee Stewart of Print It, an LBI Panel Member, presented a number of initiatives including the Liphook Business Initiative Presentation Packs for distribution to the general public, and a number of advertising opportunities.

Karen State from The Green Dragon said ‘It was a great evening and nice to see so many local professional business people here in The Green Dragon. There was lots of positive energy and we look forward to being part of LBI’

Councillor Philip Drury of Whitehill Hogmoor Ward was in attendance as a business partner of Dr Li Acupuncture and felt that it was a ‘very positive meeting for local business people with a good outcome for the future’

LBI has been formed to create a business community in Liphook and is open to all businesses that are registered in the Bramshott & Liphook Parish. The mission statement is “To promote Liphook Businesses in the community, to provide a focus for members to seek solutions and achieve common interests and to act as a lobby group”

For more information and new registrations please visit www.liphookbusiness.co.uk

The date of the next event will be announced shortly

Liphook Business Initiative is pleased to announce that their next meeting will take place on Wednesday 17 February 2010 at 6pm in the recently refurbished lounge bar of The Green Dragon, London Road, Liphook.

The LBI is open to all businesses registered or based in the Bramshott & Liphook Parish and all members and potential members are encouraged to attend and will be very welcome.

If you own or run a business in the Parish please come along and find out more about the group. The meeting will give those present the opportunity to network,  promote their business and make contact with other like minded people.

As a lobby group LBI intends to provide a strong voice to represent members and assist with addressing business related issues with the local authorities.

The membership of Liphook Business Initiative is steadily increasing and awareness in now growing.

Robert Nock of Pro-Potential said ‘I’m happy to have joined the Business Initiative as I see it as a much needed vehicle for businesses in Liphook to start working together.’

If you cannot make this meeting or would like more information please see our website www.liphookbusiness.co.uk.

If you would like to register as a member before the next meeting please visit our website. Registration Forms will also be available on the night should you wish to join.