ARE YOU GOING TO THE LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW?

If you are going to the Lincolnshire Show this year, and are a member of Select Lincolnshire for Food, let us know and we can support you with social media over the two days of trading.

The @LoveFoodLincs twitter account has over 5,700 followers – and every single person following wants to know more about our quality food offering in Lincolnshire. And on our Facebook, we have a further 690.

You can piggy back on our twitter account and facebook accounts, and use them to signpost more followers and potential new customers to your twitter, Facebook, website or stall at the Lincolnshire Show.

What we need to know
Email Charlotte.Goy@Lincs-Chamber.co.uk and tell her:

1. Where you will be at the Lincolnshire Show.
2. What you are selling.
3. Your twitter handle / name.
4. Your website address.
5. Three amazing things about your business and product.
6. Got pictures – please send them also.

With this information Charlotte will write your tweets for you and send them out over Wednesday and Thursday next week.

If you can tweet at the event, please copy us in using @LoveFoodLincs and the hashtag #LincsShow.

THOUSANDS EXPECTED TO ‘POP IN’ TO ‘POP UP SHOP’ FOR LOCAL FOOD & DRINK

Award winning local produce is taking centre stage at a Pop Up Shop in Skegness over the Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 24 to Monday 26 May 2014).

Address - Briar Way, Skegness PE25 3NR, 01754 764899
Opening times - Saturday 9am to 5pm | Sunday 10am to 4pm | Bank Holiday Monday 9am to 5pm

Poacher Cheese

Building on the success of the first one in March which attracted nearly a thousand people, organisers have decided to host a second one at the end of May.

From melt in the mouth chocolates and creamy artisan cheese; through to fruity Plum Bread, award winning sausages, smoked Grimsby fish and real tea and coffee – there is something for everyone.

Boston Sausage

The three day event, which is being organised by Lincolnshire County Council's Select Lincolnshire for Food project, will run from Saturday 24 to Monday 26 May in Units 6a and 9 at Hildreds Shopping Centre, Skegness.

The Pop Up Shop will see two empty retail units in the shopping centre filled with stalls by Select Lincolnshire for Food members.

Businesses attending include Boston Sausage, Modens bakery, Chapmans Fish Cakes, Spire Chocolates, Sweet Heat Chilli, Dennetts Ice Cream and Jenny’s Jams.

Spire Chocolates

Councillor Davie, from Lincolnshire County Council, said: "We're passionate about county food and drink, and are doing all we can to get the message out. This is the ideal opportunity for people to sample some of the finest produce Lincolnshire has to offer, and find out why we're Britain's favourite food spot.

"It's also a great way for us to give our local businesses a boost, which is good news for the wider economy as well. And I'm sure this event will be even more successful than the first."

Centre manager at Hildreds Shopping Centre, Steve Andrews, added: “Lincolnshire businesses are starting to put the storm clouds of the recession behind them and feeling optimistic about the future.
“The last event was a huge success. I was totally blown away with the number of shoppers to the

Hildreds in March. We saw a 34 per-cent increase in footfall on the first day of the Pop Up Shop opening and a 37 per-cent increase the next day, nearly all bought products from more than one stall. Boston Sausage sold out of all its stock and Modens had to raid their shop to fulfil demand!

“We are really keen to expand upon the event’s popularity which is why we have added a further unit for the May event.”

Gillian Richardson, business development manager at Select Lincolnshire for Food, said: “We are very excited about next month’s event. It is back by popular demand from local residents and reinforces excellence in Lincolnshire produce. Visitors to the pop up shops can expect to see their favourite producers from the last event plus some new additions. Together with the Hildreds Shopping Centre and the council we are always working hard to support local artisans and our food heritage, celebrate local produce and bring a fresh offering to the people of Skegness. The quality and diversity of the food on offer is always exceptional.”

Address - Briar Way, Skegness PE25 3NR, 01754 764899
Opening times - Saturday 9am to 5pm | Sunday 10am to 4pm | Bank Holiday Monday 9am to 5pm

For more information about Select Lincolnshire for Food visit www.selectlincolnshire.com

Select Lincolnshire members that are attending include:
Boston Sausage
Modens Bakery
Poacher Cheese
Sweet Heat Chilli
Spire Chocolates
Ownsworths Rapeseed Oil
Dennetts Ice Cream
Angels Desserts
Smiths Smokery
Bizzibees
Woodlands Organic Farm
Jennys Jams
Goat Wood Dairy
Real Tea and Coffee Co 
Cookie Kitchen 

Boston Visitor Economy Partnership Meeting (BVEP)

Header: Boston Visitor Economy Partnership Meeting (BVEP)

Sub header: Promoting your business online

Date: Thursday 17 April

Location: Boston College, Enterprise Zone. Report to main reception.

Time: 10am - 12.00

FREE to all businesses.

Description:

All Boston area businesses are invited to attend this meeting to hear about opportunities available to promote Boston and your business online and in print. Businesses are frequently telling us that online promotion of Boston is really important. At this meeting you will hear from:

• Janine Williams, manager of the Lincolnshire tourism website visitlincolnshire.com. Free listings are available for all relevant businesses and Janine will explain the benefits of the website and how you can make the most of it for your business.
• Jason from Flying Saucer. Jason has developed the Pescod Square website and are opening up the website to list other shopping and leisure experiences in Boston. They will also be producing a locally distributed 'newspaper'. Pescod Square would like other area businesses to work with them on these marketing activities to promote all Boston has to offer.

 Bookings: To reserve your place email Emma Tatlow emma.tatlow@lincs-chamber.co.uk

WEATHERING THE STORM: WORKSHOPS TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST

2013/14 was the wettest winter since records began.

The tidal surge which hit Lincolnshire in December was the most serious for 60 years.

Further back, Foot and Mouth Disease saw limited access to large parts of the countryside. These all had an impact on businesses.

You might not be able to prevent these extreme events, but it is possible to prepare your business for its impact so that you have the can remain operating or have the best chance of recovery.

And it isn’t always extreme events that can undermine your business – things as simple as loss of broadband or IT can be just as damaging as a major incident if you aren’t prepared.

Lincolnshire County Council is coordinating 3 free business advice sessions across Lincolnshire, funded by VisitEngland, with expert speakers to help you prepare a practical plan for responding to any future incidents, minimising the impact on your business and helping you to survive.

The sessions will take place at 9.30am at each venue:

• Monday 31 March - Lincoln - The White Hart Hotel
• Thursday 27 March - Boston - Elms Farm Cottages, Hubberts Bridge
• Friday 28 March - Skegness - Southview Park Hotel, Burgh Rd

For more details, contact Ruth Hyde on 07970 040319 or at ruth@lomaxhyde.co.uk. Visit the Visit Lincolnshire website to book.

Photo: Bob Embleton