Opportunities to Export - Somerset Chamber of Commerce

Langport Area Business Group Established 2010Set up in 2010 by a few businesses, withthe help of the Somerset Chamber ofCommerce, the Langport Area BusinessGroup (LABG) is a trade group for Langportand surrounding areas. The group aims toencourage and promote sustainable localtrade. Everyone is welcome and themembership fee has been kept to aminimum to encourage new members.For the last three years the goals have been to: Encourage and promote trade in the town ofLangport and surrounding areas Support local independent traders and businesses Strengthen business links within the area andexchange relevant information Represent the local business community, with aunited voiceWorking collaboratively with various bodies across thearea, the LABG has successfully encouraged newfootfall into the area and the group continues tosupport the wide diversity amongst the local businesscommunity that Langport and the surrounding villageshave to offer. The vibrant and dynamic mix of localbusinesses has gone some way in attracting newbusinesses and the last few months have seen no lessthan seven new businesses open up in Langport alone.The past three years, have seen membership grow toover 100 members. The group hosts small networkingevents for its members and has an active social mediaand online presence. Monthly newsletters are issuedelectronically. The group is active in enhancing thetown, both for locals and tourists. Over the last fewyears, the group has decorated the town for specialevents – you may have admired the flags designed bythe local youth group or enjoyed the Christmas treesand window decorations, sponsored by the LABG.In 2012, the LABG reinstated a monthly producemarket (the last Friday of the warmer months, April toSeptember). Supporting local producers, the marketsells fresh fish, cheese, vegetables, wine, cider andmeats – all of which have been produced, bred orgrown locally. This has proved extremely popular andthe market has kept expanding. Building on thissuccess, the LABG is supporting a number of foodieevents in the town. A street party is planned aroundThai food in September, whilst 13 th October will seeLangport host the first Night ‘Streetfood’ market – The Island Market.To demonstrate the wide breadth of members, theLABG designed and printed a map of the locality,highlighting businesses. The map, now in its third issue,is available to visitors and tourists in the InformationCentres and shops, and was posted to local householdsvia the Langport Leveller. A new map is about to beissued to reflect the many new businesses in town.With a wealth of independent businesses, Langportoffers an eclectic, innovative and professional mix ofbusinesses seldom seen in such a small conurbation.The floods and harsh winters proved that everythingwas available on our doorstep, if you knew where tolook. The LABG firmly believes in shopping local.Recent research by the CLES (Centre for LocalEconomic Strategies) and FSB (Federation of SmallBusinesses) revealed that for every £1 spent locally,around 50-70p of that money goes back into the localeconomy. For the same £1 spent out of town or online,only 5p trickles back to the local community.Over 90% of Langporttraders andbusinesses areindependents. Thishas a major impacton all of us who livein and aroundLangport. It really is ano-brainer and weneed to spread theword and convinceexisting and potentialcustomers to supporthome-grownbusinesses and toshop locally.If you would like to join, please contact:Pedro Aparicio – Chair of the Langport Area BusinessGroup via:Secretary, Andrea Pyle: labginfo@gmail.comMembership Secretary, Lynne Charlick:labgmembership@gmail.com or 07763 955390Langport Market Secretary, Clare Aparicio: 07879423117Previous pageNext page7