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NEWS RELEASE Business Walk 2016: Taking the Pulse of Ladysmith’s Business Community

By October 7, 2016October 11th, 2016Uncategorized

NEWS RELEASE Business Walk 2016: Taking the Pulse of Ladysmith’s Business Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ladysmith, October 5, 2016 – Working in partnership, the Town of Ladysmith, the Ladysmith Downtown Business Association and the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce organized Ladysmith’s first Business Walk on Wednesday, June 22, 2016.

business-walks-manual-croppedA “Business Walk” is a day dedicated to learning more about local businesses through face-to-face interviews. During Business Walk 2016, more than 30 local leaders and key community stakeholders went door-to-door surveying 94 businesses with the goal of gathering knowledge to help the business community and strengthen relationships.

When asked about the current state of their business, 59% of respondents indicated that their business was good/increasing, another 28% responded fair/steady and 13% of respondents indicating that their business was slow/poor.  

During Business Walk 2016, a number of opportunities for helping businesses thrive were identified.  Survey respondents highlighted the need for help in finding skilled employees and the need to expand their customer base as key priorities. They also pointed to the need to examine property taxes and municipal regulations and their relationship to business development.  Creating increased parking opportunities, access to public washrooms, enhanced wayfaring signage and new communication and marketing tools for business also rose to the top as opportunities for demonstrating an “open for business” attitude in Ladysmith. “On behalf of the Business Walk Steering Committee, I would like to thank all the business owners we spoke to for their honesty and participation,” said Guillermo Ferrero, Town of Ladysmith City Manager.  “With the information we now have, we can work together with and for local businesses to help them thrive, because their success is our community’s success.”

As partners on the Steering Committee consider how to move forward with the study findings, they’re aware of the need for continued collaboration and communication. On Tuesday, October 25th from 6:00 – 7:30 pm, Steering Committee Members will be hosting a Community Forum on Business and Economic Development at the Ladysmith Seniors Centre to give a report on the results of the Business Walk. At the meeting, committee members will also discuss the support programs and economic development initiatives taking place locally and regionally that can help act on business priorities.  “As one of the partners in this important initiative, the LDBA believe that a crucial piece of this process is reconnecting with the business community so that we can all move our town forward in a united, cohesive way,” said Paul Mycroft, LDBA President. “It’s one of the most important meetings of the year to attend if you want to be involved in the improvement of our future economic picture.”

Please call the Chamber of Commerce at (250) 245-2112 to reserve a seat – all are welcome but seating may be limited.

The Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, established in 1930, is a voluntary organization of business and professional men and women working together for the purpose of promoting the civic, commercial, and industrial progress of their community.

For further details, or to obtain a copy of the report, please contact:

Mark Drysdale,
Manager
Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce

T:  (250) 245-2112
F:  (250) 245-2124
E:  mark@ladysmithcofc.com