The next BID breakfast event takes place on Wednesday 18th September. To register your interest please contact Karen at karen@lovebedford.co.uk.
BID Breakfast May 2019
A gathering of over 50 business representatives attended the latest BedfordBID Networking and Briefing Breakfast at The Bedford Centre Hotel By AccorHotels to hear about the up-to-date information concerning:-
- The High Street – narrowing carriages and widening pavements; door to door visits to businesses starting shortly.
- BID4 – see the attached slide presentation
- Social Media Masterclass and How Love Bedford can help your business; recorded presentation coming soon.
BID Breakfast September 2017
The September BedfordBID Breakfast included a fascinating fact file on footfall in the town centre.
1,000 visitors were professionally polled in July (300 in Harpur Centre, 700 on-street locations) on their demographics and spending habits, as well as their views of businesses and how likely they would be a recommend the town to friends and family.
“This is important information to help us to understand who our customers are and how they could be persuaded to spend more and bring their friends,” said BedfordBID Christina,
“Bedford bucks the national trend for the number of visitors by footfall time and time again, especially when there are fun events going on like the Love Bedford Sunday.
“We know that people like positive news PR stories about the town and they read these in the local Press, but critically of course the younger audience are more influenced by social media. Our Instagram-led video campaign over the summer has been in response to that - the messages are the same: Bedford’s a great place to shop and eat.
“Our lovebedford.co.uk website is by far the best read consumer platform for the town with daily updates and offers. ”
Conducted by Shopper Anonymous, the Net Promoter Survey will be carried out again in December by which time the impact of Riverside Bedford and Rushden Lakes may be evident. Bedford Business Improvement District (BID) is the ONLY market town to have undertaken this type of survey, which is normally used by big brands like John Lewis.
In addition, the successful Customer Service campaign run last year is being repeated. 30 BID businesses can have a free training day and then follow up secret shopper visits to give feedback.
“We know that this impacts on the visitor experience and raises the bar for customer service in the town overall,” said Christina.
*See the latest news supplied at the breakfast here
New for the autumn BedfordBID has published its Food & Drink magazine. The A5 publication is packed with photo stories about great places to eat AND has an Directory of all restaurants, bars and clubs. 20,000 copies are printed and it can be read on www.lovebedford.co.uk
BID Breakfast May 2016
New Store Manager of Boots at Bedford, Gareth Ecott took centre stage at The Park Inn Bedford to talk to 70 guests about the positives of the town centre.
*Love Bedford website is going up, up and away with more hits by visitors to the town centre than any other website. “It is a great shop window for Bedford”
*Easter footfall in Bedford was UP 4% on last year compared to national town averages which were DOWN 3 %
*July 12th Marks the mission date to smarten up the town ready for summer visitors
*July 24th Love Bedford Day - a showcase for town centre businesses and FREE family fun day
Meanwhile, the Healthy High Streets project to improve investment in the trading environment is underway. Projects include raising the quality of Bedford markets to bring them up the super standards which are already on offer on some stalls. Boots nationally is supporting the Healthy High Streets campaign and locally it is working the the Bedford Business Improvement District (BID) to raise aspirations for the town.
The guest speaker for the event was Joe Nellis Professor of Global Economy at Cranfield University. He told the audience not to believe forecasts by either side because the situation created by the referendum on June 23rd had never before existed. He then went on to go through argument for and against voting to Remain or Leave.
BID breakfasts are exclusively for businesses in the BID zone. Businesses pay a levy to fund the BID which is run by businesses for businesses. It promotes the town centre for the benefit of all under the marketing title Love Bedford
Follow @lovebedford