Small Businesses, Big Winners!

SMALL businesses, young entrepreneurs and retailers alike were big winners from Small Business Saturday, held in Thame on Saturday, December 3.

Samantha Bond (left), Keith Slater and Helen Johns

Samantha Bond, the Downton Abbey actress, came to Thame to judge and present the prizes for the best window displays in the Small Business Saturday Christmas window display competition. From 18 entries submitted, Samantha and retail expert, Keith Slater, chose the three winners.

The Mayor of Thame, Linda Emery, revealed the winners at the end of a busy day, packed with workshops and one-to-one advice sessions, to celebrate Small Business Saturday in Thame, at Christchurch in the Upper High Street. The winner’s trophy and a case of prosecco went to Deli No 5, in Buttermarket, Thame. The second prize of a bottle of prosecco went to Bizzie Lizzie, the flower shop in Upper High Street, and the third prize, also a bottle of prosecco to Shaw Trust, in the High Street. These two will also receive marketing tips from Keith Slater and the winner, Hannah from Delic No 5, will receive marketing consultancy from Keith.

Helen Johns, Mayor of Thame Linda Emery and John Howell MP

Five finalists in the SBS Young Entrepreneurs Competition pitched their business ideas, Dragon’s Den style, to a panel of expert judges chaired by Tim Luscombe of Thames Valley Business Advisers. Three winners were later announced at a packed reception at The Spread Eagle Hotel. The winners’ event began with a performance by talented young singers from Stagecoach Thame.

Tom Wylam with his winner’s trophy

The prizes, sponsored by CarmichaelUK, included a first prize of £500, a trophy, and business mentoring for 12 months which went to Thomas Wylam of Princes Risborough School for his idea CupCycle, based on recycling plastic coffee cups.

Tim Luscombe presents Amelie Mason with her trophy

The second prize went to Amelie Mason of Lord Williams’s School, for her idea, Magical Maths, based on a new maths app, and the third prize went to Philippe van Caloen of Oxford Brookes University for his idea WeCoach, aimed at helping students apply for their first job. Present were John Howell MP, the Mayor of Thame, The Mayor of Thame, Linda Emery, and invited guests from among Thame businesses.

Philippe van Caloen (left) with John Howell MP

Earlier in the day, Small business owners had flocked to Christchurch to attend nine, free-to-attend workshops and one2one sessions given by business experts on subjects ranging from understanding business finance to digital marketing and how to get the right customers for your business. Attendees were also entertained by performances from Thame Pop Choir and Stagecoach Thame’s dance troupe. Small businesses were also invited to place their business cards in a prize draw to win fabulous prizes, including a cookery class at the home of Katie Ryder-Richardson, celebrated local chef and caterer, a meal for two at the Thatch, and vouchers to spend at the Book House, 2Wheels, Racquets Fitness Centre, the Cutting Rooms, Jack & Alice and others.

SBS Thame Co-ordinator, Helen Johns, said: “It was big wins all round! The Small Business Saturday organising team are grateful for the support of 21st Century Thame, our sponsors, including several local companies, Thame Town Council, and South Oxfordshire District Council, for making this highly successful event possible. We are also grateful to Thame TV for videoing the whole day. “

The sponsors of Small Business Saturday Thame 2016, were Booker Tate, Taylor Wimpey, Richardson’s Group, XT Brewing, Travelodge, ASM, DAF, K & A Scaffolding, Carmichael UK, Time For You Domestic Cleaning, The Sanderum Centre, Thame Cars, Mobalpa, MP Printers, Abbotts Office Solutions, Thame Town Council, South Oxfordshire District Council.

More information on Small Business Saturday, an annual event that puts small businesses nationwide under the spotlight, can be found at https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com and on Small Business Saturday in Thame at www.smallbizthame.uk.