Children can also bring along their letters to Santa and he will bring them back in his Santa Sack to the North Pole, have a read of them and tick ofs all the names of all the good children on his ‘Naughty or Nice List’.

Also along with Santa, there will be Carol Singing and the official switching on of the lights, which are put up by the Kilcock Business Association with some of the funds raised by the sales of the Kilcock Community Calendar. 

“We are delighted that the sales of the calendar have gone so well.  We came up with the idea of the calendar to raise funds to put back into the community and to help run community events such as the Canal festival.  This would not have been possible without the kind support of The Sammon Group, our advertisers and of course everyone who buys a calendar.  We would encourage everyone to do as much Christmas shopping in Kilcock as possible to help keep jobs locally.  Every bit spent with local businesses helps so even if its just a bit extra, it all adds up”  Tara Lane, PRO of the Kilcock Business Association.

Also don’t forget that everyone who buys a calendar for €5 in the local shops gets entered into a draw to win a €500 hamper for Christmas goodies, from local shops. 

So have a date with Santa Claus this saturday evening at 6pm in the Harbour.  Don’t be late as he has to fly off at 7pm and remember your letter.   Lets all help to light up Kilcock this Christmas.

Kilcock Business Association Presents  

‘GROW YOUR BUSINESS’

Thurs 10^th November, 7.30pm, Kilcock GAA

We would like to invite all local business owners to attend and its FREE..

The doors open at 7.30pm and the first presentation at 8pm is on ‘The importance of having a web presence and getting Kilcock online’.   This will be followed by a demonstration on ’How to use Youtube to promote your business’

Keynote speaker for the evening is Bernie Tracey of Beacon Coaching Consultancy, based in Johnstown near Naas.  Ms Tracey, who has mentored many Kildare businesses through work with the Kildare County Enterprise Board and conducted workshops with the North Kildare Chamber of Commerce, is a very well known and respected business mentor and coach amongst the Kildare business community.  She will speak on the 5 Key Skills on Effective Selling, Exploring how to run your business in changing market situations, Long term survival and the 3 Top Tips on closing a sale with more confidence. She has also launched a book called ‘The Cheese Mall, Key Marketing Skills for Budding Entrepreneurs and the KBA are delighted that she is available with her busy schedule.

The evening will also feature the launch of the Kilcock Community Calendar, kindly sponsored by The Sammon Group and local advertisers.  The CEO Miceál Sammon of main calendar sponsor, The Sammon Group was one of the finalists of the International category of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award on 20^th October.  The Sammon Group, whose headquarters are in Kilcock, employ 3500 people worldwide. 

The calendar features photographs of Kilcock that have been chosen through a competition run by the KBA and will be on sale around Kilcock for only €5.  All funds raised from the sales will all be used by the Kilcock Business Association to enhance the town and also for funding of the business and community events that they run including the Kilcock Canal Festival. 

The seminar promises to be a great evening and it is open to all and free in, so come along, enjoy the speakers and bring business cards for the networking opportunities afterwards.  For more information see  Kilcock Business Association on Facebook or email kilcockbusinessassociation@gmail.com.

Enquiries to: Tara Lane 087 9789318

October 2011

The Kilcock Integrated Services Programme (ISP) is supported by the Kildare County Development Board Plan 2009-2012 and is welcomed by the Kilcock community. The ISP will bring together key stakeholders- representatives of services provided by the state, local business, community voluntary sector groups/organisations, and local people living in Kilcock. They will work together to develop the town.

To help inform the future work of the ISP, independent consultants Burtenshaw Kenny Associates (BKA) are contracted to carry out research and a plan for Kilcock. The goal will be to produce a plan that will help to make Kilcock the kind of town that people are proud of; a sustainable community, with the services, supports and sense of togetherness that is needed to meet the needs of all residents of Kilcock.

Consultation with the community is also taking place through focus groups and a survey is available for residents of Kilcock that wish to contribute to the process.

The survey is available online at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/KilcockCommunitySurvey

 If you have Internet access, then please submit your responses online.

If not, then you can collect and return a printed version of the survey at the Kilcock Library. The survey will be open until: 4th November 2011.

All information collected will be treated in full confidence and will be incorporated into the findings from the consultation.

A separate youth survey is also taking place targeting young people aged 12 to 18 and is available at:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/KilcockYouthSurvey

 If you are aged between 12 and 18 years and living in Kilcock then we want to hear from you!

 Login at:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KilcockYouthSurvey

 The survey is being carried out by Burtenshaw Kenny Associates who are working with Kildare County Development Board and the community of Kilcock to put together a development plan for Kilcock. 

It is really important that young people have their views heard so that they can be taken into account in this plan.

Have your opinion heard and listened to.  Spread the word and let us know how you would like YOUR town to develop over the next few years. 

It just takes 5 minutes to do the survey and don’t delay, the survey closes on 4 November 2011! 

This is an excellent opportunity to local businesses to display their products, promote their services directly to the local target market and   
to chat directly to all the visitors who are coming along to see all the wonderful businesses that are available in and around Kilcock. 

The free entry to the showcase makes it an even better family day out with information on services from a huge variety of businesses, lots of special offers and taste samples from local coffee shops and restaurants.  Also the Kilcock Country Market will be on in the square so there will be lots for all family members.

If you would like to book a stand, please email kilcockbusinessassociation@gmail.com  or ring Tara Lane on 087 9789318 BEFORE Friday 16th September to reserve your space.

Kilcock Country Market - Every Saturday

There’s a big variety of produce and wares on sale – from veggies, cakes, fudge and boerwors sausages to knitted crafts, wooden tables sets and so much more! The market continues to grow – with more people coming down to shop and new vendors coming on board each week. If you haven’t already, please do come down and take a look at the Kilcock Country Market – and make sure you also have a look around Kilcock’s established businesses. This little town has a lot to offer after all

Well done to the Kilcock Business Association for putting this together. And a big thanks to Noel Lyons (SunArt) for coming to the KBA with the idea and persisting with it.

Want to take part in the Market?

Please email kilcockbusinessassociation@gmail.com and they will send you an application form. Or drop into BuySAfrica shop on New Lane for a form. There is a cost to have a stall and all applications are reviewed before permission is granted.

For Businesses - This is a great day to advertise your products, services and your friendly face to your local customer base.  Plus you can network like crazy with a range of business peers. If you have any questions or queries visit the KBA facebook page and post it up. Or give Tara Lane a buzz: 087 978 9318.

For the Locals - Come on down anytime between 2 and 8pm this Friday to see what a fantastic array of services and products you have available – right on your doorstop! It will be a great afternoon and evening.

Please join the KBA on their facebook page for regular updates and events – http://www.facebook.com/KilcockBusinessAssociation

Finally it seems the pipes have been laid correctly and the monster trucks, ugly fencing and traffic chaos have disappeared from the town center. And they have resurfaced a small strip of the New Road very nicely indeed, replete with shiny white road markings and all.  And before you all say – “Well it’s about bloody time!!” and “When will they be doing the rest of the roads??”, let us just rejoice in this small victory and celebrate the new ‘smooth as a baby’s bottom’ road surface!

Celebrating a return to normality the New Road businesses took it upon themselves to open New Road on Thursday evening.  Coleen Vorster from BuySAfrica provided the wine reception and sausage sizzle for the shop owners and guests – including Dorothy Daniels from Dorothy’s Hair Salon, Brendan from Alpine Dry Cleaning, Tara Lane from Harmony Holistic and locals Aileen Billington and Rosemary Sheridan. A resounding cheer with a white wine toast saw the road officially opened. Says Coleen:

“BuySAfrica would like to thank Ward & Burke for the very professional finish they have given to New Road.  It really is a New Road now and looking very smart.  We can now boast on having the best road in Kilcock!!  I think I also speak on behalf of  the other business in New Road as well as the residents.  I’m quite sure all the commuters using New Road are also very grateful.  Thanks Guys!! ‘

Good on you Coleen! And as always readers… Real shoppers do it locall!

First of all, thank you all so much for attending the launch of the Kilcock Business Association and making it such a success. Your committee were trilled with the attendance and thank you all so much for all the positive feedback. It is so encouraging to know that we have the support of all the fantastic businesses in the Kilcock area.

We are now closing the applications for advertising in the 2010 / 2011 Kilcock Business Directory so if you haven’t lodged your form and advert, please get into me at Harmony Holistic Health in the square, or to a committee member before Christmas eve. We will then have to get all the applications ready for printing and get the directory out working for us all early next year.

We have had a great response as people realise that this is the publication that all must be included in. If you aren’t in there are plenty of your competitors that will be listed and they will be the ones contacted by the customers, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to get your name, contact details and advertisement into all the houses in the area. Also important community information will be listed and of course you will receive a listing on the KBA section of ourkilcock.ie. If you have any Christmas offers make sure that you include them on the website.

The Kilcock Business Association is already working on your behalf, to promote your business to potential customers in the area and also to provide you with much more including networking and training opportunities. We will also do our very best for you when dealing with the relevant authorities regarding issues in Kilcock.

The yearly membership fee is only €50 and you get a full page ad for two years for only €120.00 if you are a member. That is only 16.5cent a day for advertising, where else would you get advertising to your targaret customer base for that price, so don’t miss out. The inside back cover colour ad is still available for only €250 if anyone is interested.

Get your forms in now and make sure that when the Kilcock Business Association 2010 / 2011 directory lands in your house, that you are not the business that is not in it ! if you need forms just drop into Harmony Holistic Health or contact a committee member now.

Happy Christmas to you all and may 2010 be a good one!!

Kind regards

Tara Lane
PRO Kilcock Business Association
Harmony Holistic Health, 6284476

The Kilcock Business Association was formed as a result of a very proactive meeting called by Councillor Liam Doyle at which approximately 50 business owners attended. The business owners were keen to address the issues that have been caused by numerous factors among which are the sewerage works and the dreaded “R” word. There was a very positive feeling at the meeting and everyone was keen to pull together to promote and regenerate our fabulous village.

Committee Members

A vote has held amongst all interested parties and the committee elected consists of Colm Doolan from Centra, Dorothy Daniels from Dorothys Hair and Beauty Centre, Heidi Jermyn from Cookie Web Consulting and ourkilcock.ie, John Ryan from Ryans Butchers, Mark Leonard from Twin Oaks Bakery, Mick Cotter from Mick the Barbers, Seamus Davey from Kilcock Post Office, Sean Browne from Brownes Londis, Tara Lane from Harmony Holistic Health and Thomas Byrne from Bruce Betting.

The following positions have now been filled from the committee:

• Chairperson: Sean Browne
• Secretary: Heidi Jermyn
• Treasurers: Mark Leonard & Thomas Byrne
• PRO: Tara Lane

Since the inaugural meeting on 1st October, the committee have achieved very positive results with the opening of the Gael Scoil to improve the parking situation in the square during the sewerage works. We will work on the parking on a long term basis to make it easier for people to have access to all the wonderful businesses in Kilcock.

Parking – Commuters please take note!

Did you know that if you drive from one of the local housing estates and leave your car on the Fairgreen or in the square for the day while you get the train or bus into work, your car is costing local businesses €120,000 a year in lost revenue? This lost revenue could mean the loss of a job in the area. So why not walk or share a lift to the train and help local businesses to keep jobs in Kilcock. If investors see how well trade is in Kilcock, they will start up more businesses in Kilcock and it will become an even better place to live. That’s a healthy new years resolution for you!

Kilcock Online

Like all forward thinking associations we wish to have an online presence so the website www.ourkilcock.ie has been chosen as it is a great source of local information. Contact Heidi on hello@ourkilcock.ie with any news or events to be featured on the website or for more information about placing an advertisement.

Another of our objectives is to publish a Kilcock Business Association Directory in the near future so if you wish to advertise in it, please contact me at Harmony Holistic Health. This will be an ideal opportunity for you to advertise your business in as it will be distributed to every house in Kilcock and the surrounding areas. Don’t miss out on having your details available to every possible consumer in the area.

The committee wishes to work on behalf of the businesses in the area to promote Kilcock as the place to shop locally and encourage you to employ local trades people. We also wish to highlight all the fantastic businesses that are in the area. If you have any suggestions for the committee or wish to be added to the newsletter email list please contact me on tara@harmonyholistichealth.ie. Watch out Kilcock – its onwards and upwards!!!

Happy shopping in Kilcock,

Tara Lane

Tara Lane is the PRO of the Kilcock Business Association.