Who supports Sydenham's Independent traders?

[sugahill cafe]

Quote Miss.T (from the openings/closings thread) .. 'No hidden agenda just pure frustration about The negativity i read in this forum about Sydenham business everyday. I have actually attended a few meetings as a business owner (I will let you guess which one ) And found them a complete waste of time. I do think Sydenham can be an amazing area and a source of attraction but as I said not while The society are pulling The strings'.

[sugahill cafe]

We desperately need a traders association that represents us all.

[admin]

Amen to that.
You've got my sub if you will accept non-retail businesses.

Admin

[robbieduncan]

In terms of going in and spending money we certainly do. In some cases to the tune of thousands of pounds (carpets from House of Carpets and Curtains).

[sydenhamboy]

What sort of things do this 'Sydenham Society' do to prevent progress? And why (do you think) are they motivated to do this?
I'm not questioning you - just interested.

Do you have an example of where they've been frustrating? It'll help us not involved with businesses to understand and, therefore, support.

[missT]

We desperately need a traders association that represents us all.

Let's do it!!
Who ever interested private msg me or sugahill cafe and we'll set a meeting!

[Pally]

What sort of things do this 'Sydenham Society' do to prevent progress? And why (do you think) are they motivated to do this?
I'm not questioning you - just interested.

Do you have an example of where they've been frustrating? It'll help us not involved with businesses to understand and, therefore, support.

good point and question - keen to support but don't really understand the problem re SS. Not a member....

[missT]

One of The problems is that They like to prevent businesses from opening if It's not for their liking resulting in people loosing money,time and mostly giving up on opening shops in Sydenham.

[robbieduncan]

One of The problems is that They like to prevent businesses from opening if It's not for their liking resulting in people loosing money,time and mostly giving up on opening shops in Sydenham.

You've posted this or similar a few times as fact but with no supporting evidence. Which business or businesses were prevented from opening by SydSoc and how did SydSoc prevent the opening or operation of the business?

[missT]

Feel free to come to inkwa tattoos and I will tell u all about it.

[sydenhamboy]

It's still incredibly vague (Miss T). I'm still not getting it. Perhaps I'm just being thick.

I think we might need specifics to help us understand.

[Rachael]

missT - I know next to nothing about how Syd Soc works and have nothing to do with it. But I don't think you can make accusations like that on a public forum and not back them up. Imagine if someone posted several times about your shop in that way and then refused to back it up. The accusations linger.

In terms of support for local traders, I see a new thread congratulating Billings on their fourth anniversary. People here DO support their local traders in the right circumstances. Look also at the response that White Pets Shop have made about the new aquatics store. Then consider whether your recent contributions have been positive or negative in terms of building a reputation for your business. It's not about whether or not the accusations are fair, but how you chose to address them.

Finally, please do remember that the number of people on this forum is tiny compared to the number of people living in and around Sydenham who could be your customers. Is it worth being 'peevish' online to address a few individual comments, thereby leaving an online trail of comments that might lose you potential customers in the future when they search online for tattooists in SE26?

[missT]

Rachel

Thanks for you concern for us losing business I do appreciate it.
I am not accusing just stating my opinion freedom of speech and all that .
I ,like every one else just like to see Sydenham doing better.
Alit of independent business owner feel The same I'm just happy to say it out. Isn't that The whole idea of The forum??

[robbieduncan]

Rachel

Thanks for you concern for us losing business I do appreciate it.
I am not accusing just stating my opinion freedom of speech and all that .
I ,like every one else just like to see Sydenham doing better.
Alit of independent business owner feel The same I'm just happy to say it out. Isn't that The whole idea of The forum??

Freedom of speech only goes so far before it potentially becomes libelous...

[sugahill cafe]

Rachel

Thanks for you concern for us losing business I do appreciate it.
I am not accusing just stating my opinion freedom of speech and all that .
I ,like every one else just like to see Sydenham doing better.
Alit of independent business owner feel The same I'm just happy to say it out. Isn't that The whole idea of The forum??

Freedom of speech only goes so far before it potentially becomes libelous...

What a lot of nonsense i'm sure SS can take it on the chin just like some of us traders have to,if anything it's much more personal when aimed at a business owner.

[sugahill cafe]

My main gripe is there is no togetherness in Sydenham & as a local trader feel i have no voice as there is not a traders association that represents us,so as a trader that feels passionately about the area i've ended up venting on here the same as you lot do.

[daliftkid]

My experience of the sydenham society, for those of you that dont know i am co-owner of inkwa tattoos, when applying for my application for change of use a complaint/appeal, however you want to word it, was places against the application (which happens), i then proceeded to contact my planning officer who then started the conversation with "i have some bad news" , never good to here when speaking to planning, I was then told the sydenham society have put in a complaint about this type of busineess not being what sydenham is about and it not bringing no business to other traders, so i said i'd contact the chair of the society to which the planning officer then said "tread very carefully". I then had to explain to the chair at the time exactly how a tattoo studio with real artists benefits the area. With much convincing I managed to get the chair to understand our aims and the complaint was removed TWO months after the conversation.

Now I understand peoples concerns with a tattoo studio coming into their area it has a stigma attached to the art, but then I said myself "have a look on lewisham website at my studio's previous planning apps and going back to 2001 had been rejected, of course this benefited me but what did it do for the area nothing.

I have spoken with various business owners about their experiences with their shops and alot have said they've had either go to commity over their change of use.

Bottom line is, alot is said and done by the society that benefits nobody, its traders who put the real leg work into sydenham a bussling high street whether it be chicken shops, ice cream shops or coffee shops keeps people in the area and property desired if new businesses are constantly being scrutinised, or written off instead of supported how is sydenham supposed to move forward

[sugahill cafe]

I Think there is a lack of understanding for a shop like Rob's (inkwa) they are a very funky young & vibrant business that could easily thrive (if they could afford the rent) in Brick Lane,Dalston Peckham any area the hipster's are on to but chose Sydenham as they live locally.
I couldn't believe that so many planning apps had been knocked back for the unit they are in & wonder how many times the 2 empty units to our left have had the same outcome? Anyway the result for us is we have had to survive (no mean feat i tell ya) in virtually a row of empty shops for some 5 yrs since the closure of floorzone.
An area needs to progress organically you cannot force the issue a higher being is not needed to tell us what we need and what we don't need, if a proper trader's group was in place maybe they would have a say in such matters aswell.
Chris

[mosy]

If fighting your corner from within Syd Soc is not your desire, could traders of a like mind about aims and objectives get together and form a new trade association? I think costs are usually paid by members and running costs by member subscriptions. I wouldn't know how established your TA would need to become that its voice could influence planning matters even if prospective new businesses to the area became aware of it in time. The Federation of Small Businesses might be able to offer help and advice, if you're prepared to pay their subscription fee http://www.fsb.org.uk/value

I had a look on the internet to see if I could find anything already set up but drew a blank. I think convenience stores belong to something...

Many resident shops (not pop-ups) have necessarily spent £lots on refurbishing interior as well as exterior in both equipment and H&S requirements on some premises we know to have become dilapidated. That sort of commitment should be applauded. Empty shops are good for no-one.

[missT]

I would like to make this clear this is not a witch hunt we are just sharing our personal experience wich was not a positive one ,we chose sydenham to open a business as we love the area and were pretty dissapointed from our experience .but we still hope that we can help make a change in Sydenham for The best.
Again If any independent business owners want to have a meet up feel free to contact me and I will arrange a meeting.