WHO WE ARE
We are a group of local business owners who volunteer to support businesses in Shaftesbury and the surrounding area. We are predominantly made up of retail shop owners, but also accountants, a surveyor, lawyers, event organisers, designers ….we have a variety of skills and backgrounds!
As Shaftesbury’s Chamber of Commerce, which is a formal way of saying Shaftesbury’s Business Community, we are associated with Dorset Chamber of Commerce with all their services and networking opportunities.
WHAT WE DO
We support local business by:
- lobbying our county council and town council on matters that affect business in the town.
- we do joint initiatives with the Town Council to support the local economy
- we organise three seasonal Sunday markets a year
- we organise a Christmas Late Night Shopping event and the Christmas Market
- we give financial support to new events and festivals in town
- we advise and help people wanting to open a business in town
- we liaise with landlords to keep up to date with their plans
- we respond to calls of help from the business community
- we support each other!
TOWN CALENDAR
Sunday 14th July – The Shaftesbury Market
Artisan market selling crafts, local produce, vintage and food stalls on Park Walk and down the High Street.
High Street closed from 7am – 5pm from The Commons to Angel Square
Friday 26th – Sunday 28th July – The Shaftesbury Fringe
Our very own Fringe festival, showcasing comedians, musicians, poets, storytellers, dancers and amazing performers across many genres, in venues both expected and unusual. Download the app or go to www.shaftesburyfringe.co.uk. Road closure notices will be advised nearer the time.
Sunday 11th August – The Shaftesbury Market
Details as above
Wednesday 14th – Thursday 15th August – The Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show
Our fabulous local agricultural show returns to the Turnpike Showground. Too many wonderful animals to mention, things to do, food to eat, cider to be drunk, displays, gymkhanas, stalls selling a huge array of great products. It is the highlight of many people’s year! www.gillinghamsandshaftesburyshow.co.uk
Sunday 18th August – Eat:Shaftesbury
The well known Somerset food market brand is branching out to the east. All things foodie, stalls will be on Park Walk only.
MEMBERS’ AREA
You will be asked for your members password to access the following pages.
Latest news and info
Latest news and info
Minutes of the last four meetings
Agenda for next meeting
Forthcoming networking events
Looking to start a business in Shaftesbury?
AGENTS:
Wooley & Wallis:
Myddelton & Major
Goadsby
Lawyers:
Farnfields
Rutters
Blanchards Bailey
Maclachlan
Trethowan
Accountants:
Hub Accountants
Ward Goodman
Andrews & Palmer
Town Information
Thursday 4th July – General Election
The Guild Hall at the Town Hall is the local polling station for the Shaftesbury West Ward. REMEMBER TO BRING PHOTO ID!
07:00 – 22:00
Expert Tips
- How does your website fare in searches and how you can boost its chances of being seen?
- 1. Any words in your search query need to be on the front page for them to appear.
2. If your site hasn’t been updated in a while, think what you could refresh as Google favours sites that have recent updates.
3. Searching and scrolling through search results until you find your company and clicking on it regularly helps as Google favours sites that have been visited recently.
4. Go to more than one page on your site and don’t click on any competitors after your search or you will boost them instead.
5. Links from trusted sites to your company’s site are the best way to get to the top but obviously difficult to achieve.
6. So, taking a look at the wording on the front page is a quick win. Putting contact info on the front page also helps boost visibility.
Off The High Street
- If you have a business on one of our estates or at a nearby commercial centre in one of our surrounding villages and have info you’d like to share with your business community, let us know – we’ll put it up here and start a local network noticeboard.
We are an Associated Town Chamber of Dorset Chamber, accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce.