Take a look at your business

The people behind the business

New members this month

Tip of the month

and More...

thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough

Continued...

Update2013July

at this particular shop, once we’Z�Ód_i^[Z�ekh�drinks the waitress came over and asked us if we wanted a reÓbb$�Lesi�j^Wd�Óve minutes later our order arrived with biscuits on the side. As I reached for my wallet, the cheery waitress said ‘No need to pay now, just see Mark at the till when you’re ready to leave; the biscuits are complimentary, enjoy your drinks.’

As I left the house this morning, the sun came out. No really, it did! I kid you not! I even took my jacket off!

There’s a funny thing about the sun. It doesn’t matter what kind of day you’re having, the feeling of the sun on your back just makes everything that little bit better.

Interestingly enough, amazing customer service can make you feel the same way.

A friend and I recently visited a coffee shop I hadn’t been to before. Although there wasn’t table service

You’re UniqueJust Like Everybody Else!

thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough Update July 2013

Offer of the Month

Mobile express valet and deodorise for £30

Owner Shaun Robinson of Pro Valet Vehicle Cleaning is rapidly gaining a reputation for the quality of his car wash services and the hard-work and care he puts into every job.

He is a perfectionist and guarantees to complete your vehicle’s wash and valet to your absolute satisfaction, no matter what it takes.

Is it time to get your car looking good for the summer? Well Shaun is offering an express valet & deodorise for just £30 (and he’ll even come to you to do it!)

Give him a call on 07593 903863 and quote thebestof.

John

Rather pleased with the attention (and quite frankly the trust) we received, I watched the waitress in action and noticed that between serving drinks at the counter she quietly buzzed around the Ôeer. To tables where families with small children sat, she brought extra napkins, as well as pointing out the pile of brightly coloured toys on a low table in the corner. To tables where people sat alone, she brought a paper. To tables where couples sat, deep in chat, she offered reÓbbs. Every table was served according to the people who sat there, and in doing so, that waitress brought a little bit of sunshine to every customer, making their day just that little bit better.

There are lots of reasons why I will visit that coffee shop again. The coffee is great, and the environment is lovely. But, in truth, there are lots of great coffee shops out there now, and I could choose any one of four and get a similar experience. None of them, however, have that attention to detail or cater to individual requirements

in the same way.

That waitress behaved much like a modern day business owner has to.

Her attention to the individual needs of her customers made them feel special. To me, that makes that particular coffee shop stand out from the crowd.

We all know that when it comes to marketing and customer service, one

size does NOT fit all . When it comes to customer service, independent businesses actually have a major advantage over chains. We have an ability to be Ôexible with our service and make each interaction we have with our customers truly personal. Those small touches don’t just make a difference, they are often

the difference.

The People Behind The BusinessSam Jones from The VIP Lounge/Bingo Plus in Aldershot

Sam Jones, owner of the VIP Lounge and

Bingo Plus in Aldershot is certainly no

stranger to hard work. We caught up with her

recently te�ÓdZ�ekj�W�b_ttle more about her ...

What sort of training did you have before going into

business?

I didn’t go to university but my college course, Communications Studies, I think really helped me. But I have learnt most from being on the job, through trial and error! I’m always learning.

What wekbZ�?�ÓdZ�_d�your fridge right now?

I’m a big cheese fan so I always have some nice cheeses in there!

What advice would you give to someone who

wants to set up their own business?

I’d say you need to make sure you research your sector; know about your competition. Be prepared to work hard and put in long hours. If the job’s worth doing, make sure you do it properly.

Who is the most interesting person you have

met?

My Dad would have to be the most interesting, he has been my mentor throughout my business life and I have learnt a great deal from him.

What makes your business the best?

As a family run business we put in a lot of hard work and we make sure the whole team provides a seven star service!

What is your favourite spot in Aldershot and

Farnborough?

I would have to say VIP Lounge/Bingo Plus! Simply because, as a family, we have created an amazing place to have fun, socialise and relax and there is no other place like it.

If HollyweeZ�cWZ[�W�Óbc�of your life who would you like to

see play your part?

I would like Angelina Jolie to play me, she is such an inspiring actress.

If you’re looking for a unique

venue to host an upcoming

event, be sure to contact

Sam who’ll be more than

happy to show you around

the fantastic VIP Lounge.

It couldbe you!

thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough Update July 2013

It’s always fantastic to hear about business being done within our ever-growing community of great

local businesses. Your success stories make it all worthwhile for us, so don’t be shy … let us know

when things are going well.

We’ve heard from a number of you recently about your successes with thebestof …

Seen2Help

John Thompson from Your Next Mortgage has been taking full advantage

of Seen’s virtual call assistant service, ensuring his calls are always

answered quickly and professionally when he’s unavailable to take

them himself. John is keen to highlight how happy he’s been with the

service - “Seen provide a top notch professional service whilst

supporting our CSR policy.”

iPrint

They may be new to thebestof, but Simply Carpets and Flooring

in North Camp have certainly embraced our “Buy Local”

philosophy. They’re working with Andy Laughton from iPrint to

provide the new signage and printed material for their new showroom.

The Cedar Hut

Having been a member of thebestof for a number of years, Lynn Dixon from

The Cedar Hut in Ash Vale is still receiving a steWZo�Ôow of new customers via the website as well

as our monthly networking evenings. Being awarded the most loved massage therapist in the UK in

our recent 14 Days of Love campaign is certainly helping to bring in new customers.

And the award for the

best success story

goes to …

Woods Butchers

in North Camp who

recently played host

to a stag party of all

things!

Funnily enough, this

isn’t something Rob

and his team usually

offer, but after a

request came in via

the bestof website,

theo�Ó]kred it was

worth a shot and

have fully embraced

the idea.

The stag (whose nickname happens to be Bunny)

had a fantastic morning making his own sausages …

could this be the start of a proÓtable new sideline for

Woods Butchers? Watch this space!

Working Well...

“Share your

John know what

are workingfor you.”

At thebestof Aldershot &

Farnborough we are on the lookout

for other great members.

This month we are looking for....

• Hairdressers

Farnborough

• Driving Schools

• Electricians

If you know a businesi�j^Wj�Óts the bill

please contact the team...

01252 217 101

We’ve uncovered more hidden gems over the last few weeks. A big

welcome to the following businesses who have joined us recently:

Woods Traditional ButchersWoods Butchers in

Farnborough are a family-

run butchers selling locally-

sourced, traceable British

meat and poultry, plus pre-

prepared meats, pies, cheeses,

and award-winning sausages.

Call: 01252 377443

DeVere Village Urban ResortWhether you’re staying for

business or leisure, this

wonderful hotel caters for

everyone. Their fantastic

‘Chop House’ restaurant is an

experience not to be missed.

Call: 0871 2224590

Big FryCeea_d]�]eeZ�Ói^�WdZ�Y^_ps

is about quality ingredients,

consistency, and attention

to detail, all of which is

in evidence at Big Fry in

Farnborough, together with

friendly service and good

prices. It just has everything

you want from a local chippy.

Call: 01252 543411

Simply Carpets and FlooringTania, Mel, Ronnie and the

team at Farnborough based

Simply Carpets and Flooring

will provide you with carpet,

Ôeeh_d]"�kdZ[hbay and

everything else you need at

very competitive prices.

Call: 01252 514649

Pro Valet Vehicle CleaningShaun offers a range of

professional mobile car

valeting services from an

express valet to a full interior

and exterior clean which

will bring your car back to

showroom condition.

Call: 07593 903863

The Community Matters PartnershipMany companies and

organisations already do

brilliant things within their

local community – Community

Matters brings these locally-

engaged businesses together

into an alliance, using the

combined strength to make

bigger things happen and

tackle some of the area’s

pressing social challenges.

Call: 01252 607850

thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough Update July 2013

And how our culture has changed! Mobile phones and the internet mean we really

do have a more transparent world. Celebrities cannot hide from their indiscretions,

banks cannot pretend that they weren’t greedy and certain politicians cannot deny

that they felt themselves above both the law and the populace. The hypocrisy and

‘cost to people’ will not be forgotten for a long time.

transparent world customers engage by

you’re blue in the face, but if you’re not part of your customers’ lifestyle and culture why would they want to spend time with you.”

Sam Wilson, Wolff Olins

No, I’m not referring to the play… although it doesn’t

matter how often I see it, the line “to lose one parent is unfortunate, to lose both is carelessness!” always

makes me laugh. I’m actually referring to something very

close to our hearts, fondly known as the G.A.S factor.

The Importance of BEING ERNEST

www.thebestof.co.uk/aldershot & www.thebestof.co.uk/farnborough Monthly Update November 2012

So what’s that got to do with this here G.A.S factor? Well the truth is, people are now looking for businesses to display the same values

as they do. They want you to prove that you’re not ‘just like all the others’.

They want you to ‘Give a S*!t’

Richard Branson

On saying that, there’s caring because it’s proÓtable, and only because it’s proÓtable,

and there’s caring because you do, and as a consequence it’s proÓtable. Believe me,

people can really tell the difference and this is why the banks pouring money into

social causes does nothing to improve their public image.

We all care about something. It may be a charity that’s close to your heart, maybe you’re a butcher whose passionate about British beef, maybe you’re a picture framer who loves to collect old images of the area where you live. Whatever it is, letting your customers know about it not only shows your human side, which can only help to strengthen your relationships, but also makes you stand out from the competition.

thebestof.co.uk/aldershotandfarnborough Update July 2013

Our aim is to provide

the best businesses

in Aldershot and

Farnborough with a

world classmarketing service.We’ll raise your proÓbe, connect you to new contacts and customers - and maximise your business potential.

We really do care about every one of our Business Members and we are there every step of the way to ensure that thebestof works for you.

Our 17 marketing tools

Thebestof Aldershot & Farnborough is run by John & Carly Baker

Here at thebestof it’s our job to bring trusted businesses and the community together.

Every business we feature has been checked out by us AND recommended by other local people, so you can use them with conÓZ[dce knowing they truly are one of the best at what they do.

Call Us: 01252 217 101Email: aldershot@thebestof.co.ukor: farnborough@thebestof.co.uk

Farnborough Connections

Our July breakfast networking sessions will be on 2nd, 16th and 30th of the month. Come along and see how we are very different to other breakfast networking sessions.

Call Carly on 01252 217101 or email carly@bestoffarnborough.co.uk

An Evening With thebestof

Come and join us at our next networking events in July and August. On the 18th of July we’ll be at the VIP Lounge in Aldershot and on August 15th we’ll be at Barons BMW MINI. Our evening events are always well attended and run from 6-8pm.

Come along and make new business connections, our networking evening are always well attended and open to everyone.

Call Carly on 01252 217101 or email carly@bestoffarnborough.co.uk

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