A new campaign is being launched to remind residents and visitors that Stone is where the heart is
The idea has come from the formation of the Stone Traders Group earlier this year.
The group allows local town centre business owners the opportunity to meet and discuss ways to improve footfall within Stone town centre and to build a relationship with Stone Town Council for the good of the town.
The first outwardly facing part of the group is the launching of the Stone is where the heart is campaign.
Ed Stant, Secretary of Stone Traders Group, explains his background and what the campaign is about:
“My family and I moved to Stone 10 years ago after I accepted the role as Golf Course Manager at Trentham Golf Club. Having lived in Walsall at that time and endured the M6 for several months, we decided to move closer to my work and were drawn by the warmth and charm that Stone has to offer, just as so many others before us. Forward several years (and another child!) and my wife has a business in the High Street and she and our children love everything about Stone. The children walk to school, my wife enjoys the local community spirit within the Town and the people here are some of the most charming and wonderful people you could ever wish to meet. We love Stone and we could never imagine living anywhere else.”
“Despite this, much of the feedback of the Town Centre is mixed. Some enjoy the variety of independent shops and make the most of the unique goods sold in Stone. Others are more negative and complain that you can’t get anything, or that it’s too expensive. I think that’s unfair, you can get a wide variety of goods in Stone and there are bargains to be had in many shops, if that’s your thing. There are reasons to be optimistic for the future as we look forward to M&S opening soon, two new shops opening this month; Just Carla and Man A Boot Town, not to mention a brand-new Leisure Centre at Westbridge Park on the horizon.”
“It’s this positive message we, the business community, Stone Traders Group, want to promote. Having met many business owners during this period one thing is clear; they are hard-working, resilient and above all, passionate about what they do. Our message to you is that we are here, have a lot to offer and at your disposal. Hopefully, over the course of this month, you will see our brand Stone is where the heart is in many of the Town Centre shop fronts. This positive message is to say we love Stone, we all love Stone and it’s where our heart is. Stone is not alone in facing challenges within its High Street and yes, it is hard out there, but we are up for the challenge, are you?”
“Stone is where the heart is brand was an idea of David Barrett at Regent Travel, kindly illustrated for Stone Traders Group by Emma Joustra, graphically designed and printed by Panda Press and materials paid for by an anonymous donor, together with several traders. Thank you to all concerned, you’re done us proud”
If you see this message in a town centre shop, why not pop in and acknowledge it’s been noticed and say hello to the wonderful men and women who invest in OUR town centre.
You never know you may even spot something to buy!
[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” class=”” width=””]Back in 2014/2015 we ran a series of articles about some of the men and women behind the shops we have, it’s great to see how well they’ve done since we featured them – Hidden Gems of Stone[/box]
2 comments
Nick
I totally agree with Andy’s opinion that the pedestrian High Street is very much the reason why the town centre struggles so much. Passing traffic just cannot see what is available and simply drives through/around Stone.
Parts of Europe operate a mixed pedestrian and vehicular zone where pedestrians and cyclists have priority and this would seem to be an idea that could at least be trialled in Stone.
As a Stone resident for 15 years I do try and support local shops such as the greengrocers and butchers but feel that in the evening the town centre very much only caters for those with a healthy bank balance.
Stone is a great place to live and I see no reason to move so lets see what can be done in the future.
Andy
You got my vote! Stone has a massive (and growing) population – it’s always been a mystery to me why it has failed in the past to sustain a vibrant High At – especially when much smaller Eccleshall seems to be so much more successful at this. I have a pet theory that pedestrianisation is partly to blame. Those nearby towns that have avoided this seem to have more healthy high streets. Anyway, whatever the reason – more power to your elbow!!