The Big Otley Sale
Following the success of last year’s Big Otley Sale, Otley BID have distributed over 150 posters to Otley businesses with the aim of bringing shoppers into our thriving town to take advantage of the January Sale discounts.
We are aware that businesses will have their own Sales on in the New Year, but this message will help us communicate it to a wider audience, ultimately bringing people to shop in Otley who may not have necessarily thought of doing so in the past.
We are hoping that all businesses can get involved to ensure that the event is a success for everyone.
These FREE posters have been distributed pre-Xmas. The event will also be promoted via local press, social media and on the local shopping website ShopAppy.com.
We would urge you to give this prominent space in your windows and doors, and also promote it far and wide on your own websites and social media platforms.
Let’s make this the BIGGEST and most successful Otley Sale anyone has ever seen!
Planning for 2018!
The priorities for the coming year are being drawn up in readiness for our next Board Meeting. The following areas will be taken into consideration; marketing, activities, attractions, improvements to the town etc. More detail about our forthcoming projects will be included in the next edition and available on our website and social media during January.
Transport Links
We will be meeting with First Bus, Arriva and local Councillors in January, and hope a representative from Menston and Otley Town Councils will also be present, to progress the idea of Otley being included in Menston station’s name. First Bus have agreed to attend and we hope the key figure we have invited to the meeting will play a future partnership role with the Councils.
Avid readers of the Bulletin may recall that in 2016 Connexions also agreed with the BID to meet and discuss ways to help Otley. We hope that through the January meeting we can see future meetings with Connexions and the school bus companies to see future improvements.
As an aside, Connections and Tetley Coaches were extremely helpful at relocating when we drew it to their attention they were blocking visiting coach spaces on Cattle Market Street. We would like to thank them for their help and assistance in their speedy response to this matter.
Otley Business Summit
The Otley Business Summit held on Thursday 9th December discussed a range of questions raised by Otley BID members and brief presentations on the way forward for market towns by:
- Leeds City Council’s Leader, Cllr Judith Blake
- West and North Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce Chair, Gerald Jennings
- Northallerton BID Manager, Julia Chance
- Sainsbury’s representative, Tom French
- Otley Chamber Chair, Katie Burnett and
- Otley BID Chair, Steph Lee
Otley BID members were asked to note that it was a chance for businesses to raise points of concern from which the BID Board would decide which are appropriate for them to progress. An update on these points will be given in the January edition, following the BID’s next Board Meeting.