Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Llanelli's busy BNI business network members will be hosting their first awards dinner on Friday. It is being held at 7.30pm on Friday, November 18, at The Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli. "It will be a great networking occasion, a fun and entertaining night and a great opportunity to recognise the achievements of our members," said Llanelli BNI Endeavour Chapter chairman Paul Williams. "Very importantly, it is an evening open to the whole of the business community in and around Llanelli, not just members of the BNI, Business Network International, team. "Our members play a key role in the community in the Llanelli area and we'd like to see as many businesses as possible represented at the dinner." The format and running order for the night will be as follows: • Arrival 7.30 PM • Three-course dinner 8.00 PM • Awards presentation 9.20 PM • ‘Dusty Road’ cabaret duo 9.45 PM The ‘Dusty Road’ duo are one of the most in-demand cabaret acts in Wales ...

Burry Post businessman Gareth Isaac is confident the planned new Tesco store will provide a boost to independent traders in the town. “Burry Port shouldn’t be worried and should get out the welcome mat,” said Mr Isaac, who runs GI Carpets and Rugs in Station Road. The Tesco plan is for a new store on the “Fairground Field” close to Burry Port Harbour. The store could be open by Christmas, 2012. The store will have 15,000 sq ft sales area and a 125-space car park that will be available for all shoppers, regardless of whether they visit the store. Mr Isaac, 43, said: “Yes, I can see why some independent traders will be worried about the arrival of Tesco. “But we have to look at the positives – they will be creating 130 full and part-time jobs and that money, we hope, should be spent back in Burry Port. “The new car park will also encourage more people to visit the town. “With more footfall through the town, we need to show that we, as independent retailers, offer different sorts of ...

Burry Post businessman Gareth Isaac is a prime example of how hard work can help you beat the recession. Mr Isaac set up his GI Carpets and Rugs business exactly three years ago – just as the economy started to nosedive. “People looked at me as if I was daft trying to set up a new business,” said Mr Isaac. “But I’m now celebrating the third birthday of the business. I’m still here and proof that you can make a go of things in even the toughest economic climate. “You just have to make sure that you are providing a quality service and giving the customer what they want.” Mr Isaac, 43, had been working for another carpet retailer before deciding to go it alone. “I spotted something of a gap in the market. There wasn’t a carpet shop in Burry Port and I recognised the fact that it is one of the biggest towns in Carmarthenshire,” he said. “We run a very different operation to the big ‘supermarket-style’ carpet warehouses. “I have a great small team of three part-time carpet fitters and we pr...