thebestof aldershot and farnborough newsletter - july 2013
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http://www.iamthebestof.bizTRANSCRIPT
Take a look at your business
The people behind the business
New members this month
Tip of the month
and More...
thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough
Continued...
Update2013July
at this particular shop, once we’Z�Ód_i^[Z�ekh�drinks the waitress came over and asked us if we wanted a reÓbb$�Lesi�j^Wd�Óve minutes later our order arrived with biscuits on the side. As I reached for my wallet, the cheery waitress said ‘No need to pay now, just see Mark at the till when you’re ready to leave; the biscuits are complimentary, enjoy your drinks.’
As I left the house this morning, the sun came out. No really, it did! I kid you not! I even took my jacket off!
There’s a funny thing about the sun. It doesn’t matter what kind of day you’re having, the feeling of the sun on your back just makes everything that little bit better.
Interestingly enough, amazing customer service can make you feel the same way.
A friend and I recently visited a coffee shop I hadn’t been to before. Although there wasn’t table service
You’re UniqueJust Like Everybody Else!
thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough Update July 2013
Offer of the Month
Mobile express valet and deodorise for £30
Owner Shaun Robinson of Pro Valet Vehicle Cleaning is rapidly gaining a reputation for the quality of his car wash services and the hard-work and care he puts into every job.
He is a perfectionist and guarantees to complete your vehicle’s wash and valet to your absolute satisfaction, no matter what it takes.
Is it time to get your car looking good for the summer? Well Shaun is offering an express valet & deodorise for just £30 (and he’ll even come to you to do it!)
Give him a call on 07593 903863 and quote thebestof.
John
Rather pleased with the attention (and quite frankly the trust) we received, I watched the waitress in action and noticed that between serving drinks at the counter she quietly buzzed around the Ôeer. To tables where families with small children sat, she brought extra napkins, as well as pointing out the pile of brightly coloured toys on a low table in the corner. To tables where people sat alone, she brought a paper. To tables where couples sat, deep in chat, she offered reÓbbs. Every table was served according to the people who sat there, and in doing so, that waitress brought a little bit of sunshine to every customer, making their day just that little bit better.
There are lots of reasons why I will visit that coffee shop again. The coffee is great, and the environment is lovely. But, in truth, there are lots of great coffee shops out there now, and I could choose any one of four and get a similar experience. None of them, however, have that attention to detail or cater to individual requirements
in the same way.
That waitress behaved much like a modern day business owner has to.
Her attention to the individual needs of her customers made them feel special. To me, that makes that particular coffee shop stand out from the crowd.
We all know that when it comes to marketing and customer service, one
size does NOT fit all . When it comes to customer service, independent businesses actually have a major advantage over chains. We have an ability to be Ôexible with our service and make each interaction we have with our customers truly personal. Those small touches don’t just make a difference, they are often
the difference.
The People Behind The BusinessSam Jones from The VIP Lounge/Bingo Plus in Aldershot
Sam Jones, owner of the VIP Lounge and
Bingo Plus in Aldershot is certainly no
stranger to hard work. We caught up with her
recently te�ÓdZ�ekj�W�b_ttle more about her ...
What sort of training did you have before going into
business?
I didn’t go to university but my college course, Communications Studies, I think really helped me. But I have learnt most from being on the job, through trial and error! I’m always learning.
What wekbZ�?�ÓdZ�_d�your fridge right now?
I’m a big cheese fan so I always have some nice cheeses in there!
What advice would you give to someone who
wants to set up their own business?
I’d say you need to make sure you research your sector; know about your competition. Be prepared to work hard and put in long hours. If the job’s worth doing, make sure you do it properly.
Who is the most interesting person you have
met?
My Dad would have to be the most interesting, he has been my mentor throughout my business life and I have learnt a great deal from him.
What makes your business the best?
As a family run business we put in a lot of hard work and we make sure the whole team provides a seven star service!
What is your favourite spot in Aldershot and
Farnborough?
I would have to say VIP Lounge/Bingo Plus! Simply because, as a family, we have created an amazing place to have fun, socialise and relax and there is no other place like it.
If HollyweeZ�cWZ[�W�Óbc�of your life who would you like to
see play your part?
I would like Angelina Jolie to play me, she is such an inspiring actress.
If you’re looking for a unique
venue to host an upcoming
event, be sure to contact
Sam who’ll be more than
happy to show you around
the fantastic VIP Lounge.
It couldbe you!
thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough Update July 2013
It’s always fantastic to hear about business being done within our ever-growing community of great
local businesses. Your success stories make it all worthwhile for us, so don’t be shy … let us know
when things are going well.
We’ve heard from a number of you recently about your successes with thebestof …
Seen2Help
John Thompson from Your Next Mortgage has been taking full advantage
of Seen’s virtual call assistant service, ensuring his calls are always
answered quickly and professionally when he’s unavailable to take
them himself. John is keen to highlight how happy he’s been with the
service - “Seen provide a top notch professional service whilst
supporting our CSR policy.”
iPrint
They may be new to thebestof, but Simply Carpets and Flooring
in North Camp have certainly embraced our “Buy Local”
philosophy. They’re working with Andy Laughton from iPrint to
provide the new signage and printed material for their new showroom.
The Cedar Hut
Having been a member of thebestof for a number of years, Lynn Dixon from
The Cedar Hut in Ash Vale is still receiving a steWZo�Ôow of new customers via the website as well
as our monthly networking evenings. Being awarded the most loved massage therapist in the UK in
our recent 14 Days of Love campaign is certainly helping to bring in new customers.
And the award for the
best success story
goes to …
Woods Butchers
in North Camp who
recently played host
to a stag party of all
things!
Funnily enough, this
isn’t something Rob
and his team usually
offer, but after a
request came in via
the bestof website,
theo�Ó]kred it was
worth a shot and
have fully embraced
the idea.
The stag (whose nickname happens to be Bunny)
had a fantastic morning making his own sausages …
could this be the start of a proÓtable new sideline for
Woods Butchers? Watch this space!
Working Well...
“Share your
John know what
are workingfor you.”
At thebestof Aldershot &
Farnborough we are on the lookout
for other great members.
This month we are looking for....
• Hairdressers
Farnborough
• Driving Schools
• Electricians
If you know a businesi�j^Wj�Óts the bill
please contact the team...
01252 217 101
We’ve uncovered more hidden gems over the last few weeks. A big
welcome to the following businesses who have joined us recently:
Woods Traditional ButchersWoods Butchers in
Farnborough are a family-
run butchers selling locally-
sourced, traceable British
meat and poultry, plus pre-
prepared meats, pies, cheeses,
and award-winning sausages.
Call: 01252 377443
DeVere Village Urban ResortWhether you’re staying for
business or leisure, this
wonderful hotel caters for
everyone. Their fantastic
‘Chop House’ restaurant is an
experience not to be missed.
Call: 0871 2224590
Big FryCeea_d]�]eeZ�Ói^�WdZ�Y^_ps
is about quality ingredients,
consistency, and attention
to detail, all of which is
in evidence at Big Fry in
Farnborough, together with
friendly service and good
prices. It just has everything
you want from a local chippy.
Call: 01252 543411
Simply Carpets and FlooringTania, Mel, Ronnie and the
team at Farnborough based
Simply Carpets and Flooring
will provide you with carpet,
Ôeeh_d]"�kdZ[hbay and
everything else you need at
very competitive prices.
Call: 01252 514649
Pro Valet Vehicle CleaningShaun offers a range of
professional mobile car
valeting services from an
express valet to a full interior
and exterior clean which
will bring your car back to
showroom condition.
Call: 07593 903863
The Community Matters PartnershipMany companies and
organisations already do
brilliant things within their
local community – Community
Matters brings these locally-
engaged businesses together
into an alliance, using the
combined strength to make
bigger things happen and
tackle some of the area’s
pressing social challenges.
Call: 01252 607850
thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough Update July 2013
And how our culture has changed! Mobile phones and the internet mean we really
do have a more transparent world. Celebrities cannot hide from their indiscretions,
banks cannot pretend that they weren’t greedy and certain politicians cannot deny
that they felt themselves above both the law and the populace. The hypocrisy and
‘cost to people’ will not be forgotten for a long time.
transparent world customers engage by
you’re blue in the face, but if you’re not part of your customers’ lifestyle and culture why would they want to spend time with you.”
Sam Wilson, Wolff Olins
No, I’m not referring to the play… although it doesn’t
matter how often I see it, the line “to lose one parent is unfortunate, to lose both is carelessness!” always
makes me laugh. I’m actually referring to something very
close to our hearts, fondly known as the G.A.S factor.
The Importance of BEING ERNEST
www.thebestof.co.uk/aldershot & www.thebestof.co.uk/farnborough Monthly Update November 2012
So what’s that got to do with this here G.A.S factor? Well the truth is, people are now looking for businesses to display the same values
as they do. They want you to prove that you’re not ‘just like all the others’.
They want you to ‘Give a S*!t’
Richard Branson
On saying that, there’s caring because it’s proÓtable, and only because it’s proÓtable,
and there’s caring because you do, and as a consequence it’s proÓtable. Believe me,
people can really tell the difference and this is why the banks pouring money into
social causes does nothing to improve their public image.
We all care about something. It may be a charity that’s close to your heart, maybe you’re a butcher whose passionate about British beef, maybe you’re a picture framer who loves to collect old images of the area where you live. Whatever it is, letting your customers know about it not only shows your human side, which can only help to strengthen your relationships, but also makes you stand out from the competition.
thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough Update July 2013
Our aim is to provide
the best businesses
in Aldershot and
Farnborough with a
world classmarketing service.We’ll raise your proÓbe, connect you to new contacts and customers - and maximise your business potential.
We really do care about every one of our Business Members and we are there every step of the way to ensure that thebestof works for you.
Our 17 marketing tools
Thebestof Aldershot & Farnborough is run by John & Carly Baker
Here at thebestof it’s our job to bring trusted businesses and the community together.
Every business we feature has been checked out by us AND recommended by other local people, so you can use them with conÓZ[dce knowing they truly are one of the best at what they do.
Call Us: 01252 217 101Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
Farnborough Connections
Our July breakfast networking sessions will be on 2nd, 16th and 30th of the month. Come along and see how we are very different to other breakfast networking sessions.
Call Carly on 01252 217101 or email [email protected]
An Evening With thebestof
Come and join us at our next networking events in July and August. On the 18th of July we’ll be at the VIP Lounge in Aldershot and on August 15th we’ll be at Barons BMW MINI. Our evening events are always well attended and run from 6-8pm.
Come along and make new business connections, our networking evening are always well attended and open to everyone.
Call Carly on 01252 217101 or email [email protected]
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