Big Breakfast
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As a WoTTA member you will automatically be invited to our Big Breakfasts, running four times a year. This is an informal get-together for members and local businesses to meet at a local venue and chat about what matters to them. If you'd like to host, sponsor or attend a Big Breakfast please GET IN TOUCH.
Big Breakfast Tuesday October 22nd 2019 Many thanks to RUSH, Heart Shopping Centre for hosting the event. WoTTA's Managing Director Joanna Gordon welcomed about 4o representatives from local businesses, not-for-profit organisations and charities as well as Walton's Councillors to the October Big Breakfast. In her presentation, Joanna updated the group about recent developments about WoTTA's activities. She also presented information submitted by the police. Emily Boulting, Director of Riverhouse Barn presented the charity's plans for dealing with the Climate Emergency. She spoke passionately about the need for all organisations to develop and. start implementing their own Climate Emergency Plan. The final speaker was WoTTA's PR and Marketing Director Tracey Blandford who gave a report on progress being made by The Mosaic Partmership to develop the Walton-on-Thames Business Improvement District (BID) proposal. Slides used at the Big Breakfast can be downloaded below the gallery. The next BIG Breakfast Event will be in the first quarter of 2020. 
Big Breakfast - July 2019
Our event in July gave WoTTA Members and representatives from local businesses and charities to join some politicians and residents for a breakfast briefing. Topics on the agenda were:
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February Big Breakfast
Kindly hosted by the Riverhouse Barn in their lovely Cafe we had our best turnout ever! With representatives from local businesses, charities, residents and politics. Topics included a short report from WoTTA on the BID and other ongoing projects plus we heard from Sgt Rob Thomas on the PSPO. A PDF with the full slide presentation is available if you download this file
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June Breakfast
Many thanks to the Walton Village for hosting the June Big Breakfast. Members listened and discussed a range of topics this time; Fat Bergs, GDPR and the exciting news that Walton will soon have it's own magazine - Walton Matters - delivered to 8k homes!
Full notes to come soon.
Many thanks to the Walton Village for hosting the June Big Breakfast. Members listened and discussed a range of topics this time; Fat Bergs, GDPR and the exciting news that Walton will soon have it's own magazine - Walton Matters - delivered to 8k homes!
Full notes to come soon.
February Breakfast - Kick Start your 2018 - Support for Your Business & The Future of Walton
Doug Perkins, Economic Development Officer at Elmbridge Borough Council and Tracey Blandford, PR & Marketing Director of WoTTA gave the talk this month. Doug gave a comprehensive presentation on all the Council can offer in terms of practical and financial help for local Elmbridge businesses, whatever their size, Tracey shared the results of a recent short survey given to local businesses. The results of that survey will determine how WoTTA moves forward with making Walton a better place to live and work. Check out the February 2018 full presentation for all the details. Thanks to Doug, Tracey and the amazing Wagamama's for hosting a fabulous event.
Doug Perkins, Economic Development Officer at Elmbridge Borough Council and Tracey Blandford, PR & Marketing Director of WoTTA gave the talk this month. Doug gave a comprehensive presentation on all the Council can offer in terms of practical and financial help for local Elmbridge businesses, whatever their size, Tracey shared the results of a recent short survey given to local businesses. The results of that survey will determine how WoTTA moves forward with making Walton a better place to live and work. Check out the February 2018 full presentation for all the details. Thanks to Doug, Tracey and the amazing Wagamama's for hosting a fabulous event.
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Walton Businesses come together to hear update and outlook from Dominic Raab
So the summer holidays have ended, the general summer recess has ended with the return of Parliament and businesses looking forward to the run in to Christmas!! So to embrace the feeling of ‘getting started’ WoTTA (Walton on Thames Trading Alliance) delivered their autumn Big Breakfast at independent Café The 1955 Club with a keynote presentation from Esher & Walton MP Dominic Raab. With over 30 businesses in attendance Dominic covered issues both local to Walton and at a national level and took plenty of questions. After the event he commented “I welcome the amazing initiative of Joanna Gordon and her WoTTA team, including most recently helping to organise Walton Heritage Day. It was important for me to come and discuss key local business issues, especially the local impact of business rates on the High Street. I was able to highlight the huge opportunities in our local area, from the opening of two new free schools in Walton to the benefits we have already seen from Flood Re, a government-backed system which provides flood insurance to properties at risk of flooding in my constituency area.” Ms Gordon, Managing Director of WoTTA said “it was great to have Dominic visit us and address the group. Many of the questions from attendees focused on challenges for retailers given the online competition and local crime and anti-social behaviour, which also affect trading in Walton. Personally, it was also good to hear an update on Brexit and the forthcoming Budget as that puts into context the work going on at national level to secure good trading environments for towns like Walton.” For those that couldn't make it, the video of the talk will be coming soon... A big thank you to Paul Baron of The 1955 Club cafe for hosting! |
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WOTTA’S BIG BREAKFAST GETS SOCIAL
The second Walton-on-Thames Trading Alliance (WoTTA) Big Breakfast meeting of 2017 took place on March 7th and was a great success with over 20 businesses represented. With networking before and after the main presentation focused on Embracing Social Media to increase brand awareness and revenues. Full presentation available HERE.
The event was hosted by Morts Wine Bar, serving tea, coffee and pastries whilst representatives of food, beauty, dog treats, security, carpets, IT and Fire Safety discussed the start of 2017, the tempo of life in Walton and their own needs in the online arena of social media, LinkedIn, YouTube and Trip Advisor.
The presentation was delivered by Tracey Blandford of Ch@tterbox Marketing Services, showing the audience at in 2016 an internet minute included 2.8 million video views, 700,000 Facebook logins, 530,000 snapchat photos, 350,000 tweets and 38,000 Instagram posts! All quite daunting but attendees were reminded “If you’re not on social media, you can be sure your competitor is. Explore the platforms available to create brand awareness, be clear which type of social media will work for your business, how often you want to engage and how much you want to spend.”
Mrs Blandford a social media specialist reiterated “Knowing your audience and creating visual content is key, especially as it has been said that by the end of 2017 96% of online content will be video – short, sharp 40 seconds max – whether it is a App based run of photos or a live action piece.”
Paul, owner of local independent café The 1955 Club, said “I spend a specific time on social media each day to see what is happening, feedback for my business is very important. The presentation has given me confidence I am doing the right things to enhance customer relationships and awareness.”
Neil Luxton owner of Trident Voice & Data said “Making social media work for business is not something I'm naturally inclined to - but Tracy makes a compelling case for organisations of any size. You'd pay good money for quality insight and experience of this kind elsewhere. He continued “As a small business owner in Walton, it's great that WOTTA has put the buzz back into the business community.”
Joanna Gordon, Managing Director of WoTTA took the time to share recent achievements of WoTTA, and ongoing goals for 2017 which include working with businesses and sports groups to create skills training, volunteer and work placement opportunities for young people in the town, developing Walton in Bloom and assisting in forthcoming events such as Anzac Day, May Fair and the towns Rowing Regatta.
If you’re a Walton business and would like to be added to the groups mailing list, please email [email protected].
The second Walton-on-Thames Trading Alliance (WoTTA) Big Breakfast meeting of 2017 took place on March 7th and was a great success with over 20 businesses represented. With networking before and after the main presentation focused on Embracing Social Media to increase brand awareness and revenues. Full presentation available HERE.
The event was hosted by Morts Wine Bar, serving tea, coffee and pastries whilst representatives of food, beauty, dog treats, security, carpets, IT and Fire Safety discussed the start of 2017, the tempo of life in Walton and their own needs in the online arena of social media, LinkedIn, YouTube and Trip Advisor.
The presentation was delivered by Tracey Blandford of Ch@tterbox Marketing Services, showing the audience at in 2016 an internet minute included 2.8 million video views, 700,000 Facebook logins, 530,000 snapchat photos, 350,000 tweets and 38,000 Instagram posts! All quite daunting but attendees were reminded “If you’re not on social media, you can be sure your competitor is. Explore the platforms available to create brand awareness, be clear which type of social media will work for your business, how often you want to engage and how much you want to spend.”
Mrs Blandford a social media specialist reiterated “Knowing your audience and creating visual content is key, especially as it has been said that by the end of 2017 96% of online content will be video – short, sharp 40 seconds max – whether it is a App based run of photos or a live action piece.”
Paul, owner of local independent café The 1955 Club, said “I spend a specific time on social media each day to see what is happening, feedback for my business is very important. The presentation has given me confidence I am doing the right things to enhance customer relationships and awareness.”
Neil Luxton owner of Trident Voice & Data said “Making social media work for business is not something I'm naturally inclined to - but Tracy makes a compelling case for organisations of any size. You'd pay good money for quality insight and experience of this kind elsewhere. He continued “As a small business owner in Walton, it's great that WOTTA has put the buzz back into the business community.”
Joanna Gordon, Managing Director of WoTTA took the time to share recent achievements of WoTTA, and ongoing goals for 2017 which include working with businesses and sports groups to create skills training, volunteer and work placement opportunities for young people in the town, developing Walton in Bloom and assisting in forthcoming events such as Anzac Day, May Fair and the towns Rowing Regatta.
If you’re a Walton business and would like to be added to the groups mailing list, please email [email protected].
First Big Breakfast
WoTTA held their first of these events on October 26th. Hosted by McDonalds in the High Street - after the great new refit - it was very well attended. Cllr Mary Marshall, portfolio holder for community and corporate development at Elmbridge Borough Council gave her view on the shopping experience within the borough and what Walton could do to improve footfall. WoTTA members from Lewis Beds, DBA Speakers, Morts Wine Bar, Sainsburys, Walton Charity, Wilkos and many others enjoyed the talk and the opportunity to network - as well as the delicious breakfast!
WoTTA held their first of these events on October 26th. Hosted by McDonalds in the High Street - after the great new refit - it was very well attended. Cllr Mary Marshall, portfolio holder for community and corporate development at Elmbridge Borough Council gave her view on the shopping experience within the borough and what Walton could do to improve footfall. WoTTA members from Lewis Beds, DBA Speakers, Morts Wine Bar, Sainsburys, Walton Charity, Wilkos and many others enjoyed the talk and the opportunity to network - as well as the delicious breakfast!