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

The latest 'Shop Elli' (about life at the St Elli Shopping Centre) column from the Llanelli Star -  With just six days to go to Christmas, it is the proverbial ‘last lap’ for Christmas shopping at Llanelli’s St Elli Shopping Centre. St Elli centre manager Andrew Stephens said: “All of our traders have been reporting brisk trading and the beauty of our shopping centre is that we are open right up until the last-minute for the pre-Christmas rush.” Santa’s Grotto (part of the big ‘Christmas Shop’ at Unit 1 at the centre) has been very busy in the run-up to Christmas. Mr Stephens said that there was something for everyone at the centre. “One of the features at the St Elli Shopping Centre is the Gilded Lily Craft Fair. “The fair is usually on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of most weeks, but has been pretty well continuous for the last few weeks. “We think it adds another shopping dimension to the centre. You have your established retailers and then there’s even more activity wit...

The latest 'Shop Elli' column from the Llanelli Star -  With 13 days to go to Christmas, the festive season has definitely arrived at Llanelli’s St Elli Shopping Centre. Santa’s Grotto is up and running and is part of the big ‘Christmas Shop’ at Unit 1 at the centre, immediately next to Greggs the bakers. St Elli centre manager Andrew Stephens said: “Our lights are up and Santa’s grotto is bigger and better than ever. “The centre has had an early Christmas present with the vote of confidence from our new owners. “We are currently averaging 600,000 shoppers a month, but December is always our busiest time of the year and we expect to smash that figure this month. “Our appeal to all shoppers is to support all of Llanelli town centre, including the St Elli Shopping Centre.” ------------------------------------------- Events DECEMBER Until Sat 15th Scarlet FM 2013 Toy Appeal Pyramid area / Escalator Until Sat 14th AA ASDA Entrance Wednesday 11th RathboneCone area Market Hall entran...

The latest 'Shop Elli' column about the St Elli Shopping Centre (edited version appears in Llanelli Star today) -  The team at the St Elli Shopping Centre is gearing-up for Christmas. “There are many different events planned, but a particular favourite is the annual Reindeer Parade on Sunday, November 24,” said centre manager Andrew Stephens. “We are looking for groups, clubs and organisations who may want to take part in the walking parade. “Each year, we have the Army Cadets, the Academy and Friendship theatre groups, Llanelli Gymnastics Club, the Sea Cadets and the St John Ambulance. There may be other groups out there who want to promote their Christmas activities. In which case, get in touch to join the parade. “The parade takes in Market Street, Gelli Onn and Vaughn Street before arriving back at the St Elli Centre.” Anyone interested should email Andrew Stephens on andrew.stephens@stelli.co.uk or call 01554 746603 ------------------------------------------- Events NOVE...

The latest 'Shop Elli' column from the Llanelli Star -  The popular Gilded Lili craft fair is continuing all this month at the St Elli Shopping Centre. Gilded Lili partner Maria Val Loureda said: “We always aim to put a wide variety of different stalls on display at the centre and the feedback from the public is great.” On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Trostre Camera Club will be exhibiting at the centre. Centre manager Andrew Stephens said: “There are some very fine photographers in the club, many of whom are regularly featured in newspapers, magazines, websites and other publications. “The camera club display is always popular with shoppers. It all adds to the variety of the shopping experience at the St Elli Shopping Centre.” ------------------------------------------- Events All of August, Gilded Lili Craft Fair, Pyramid area. Until Saturday 24th, Ross Aldridge Solicitors, Cone area Wilkinson pillar. Thu 22nd - Sat 24th, Trostre Camera Club, Pyramid area. Mon 26th – Sat 3...

The latest 'Shop Elli' column from the Llanelli Star -  Christmas is coming early to one Llanelli shop. There may be 'only' 132 days to Christmas (as at date Weds), but the Card Factory in the St Elli Shopping Centre in Llanelli is getting ready for the festive season. The Card Factory is the first high street store to launch Christmas and shoppers are getting into the spirit by flocking to buy their festive cards. A spokesman for the Llanelli Card Factory shop said: “Lots of our customers like to spread the cost of Christmas, so we make sure we launch our Christmas ranges in plenty of time. “They seem to be going down very well with customers - and the staff are enjoying getting into the Christmas mood.” The Card Factory, a business based in Wakefield, is the UK’s fastest growing specialist greetings card retailer, with more than 650 stores nationwide and new stores opening all the time. ------------------------------------------- Events August All month, Gilded Lili C...

The latest 'Shop Elli' column from the Llanelli Star -  The first motor show of the year at the St Elli Shopping Centre was a big hit with shoppers. The event was organised in conjunction with Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM radio stations. Radio presenter Jay Curtis said: “It was great to see so many different vehicles from a wide range of local dealerships. The St Elli Shopping Centre is a busy area with lots of footfall and we were all impressed with the interest shown in the cars.” St Elli Shopping Centre manager Andrew Stephens said: “We are very lucky in having plenty of room under the pyramid to stage a motor show like this. Interestingly, cars are always of interest to shoppers at the centre as we also have the VW Sinclair dealership mini-showroom, which is always very popular." ------------------------------------------- July events Thursday 18th, NHS Wales, Cone area Market Hall entrance Thu 18th Fri 19th Sat 20th, Gilded Lili Craft Fair, Pyramid are...

No room at the inn for this column in Llanelli Star this week, so here it is . . .  The team at the St Elli Shopping Centre is gearing up for one of its largest ever craft fairs tomorrow (Thursday). “We are expecting something like 26 different craft stalls,” said St Elli Shopping Centre manager Andrew Stephens. The event is part of our regular series of events held in conjunction with the Gilded Lili Craft Fair. “The craft fairs are always popular but we are expecting a record number of stallholders to attend on Thursday. “There will be something for everyone – and, of course, all our regular centre shops will be glad to welcome visitors old and new to the centre.” ------------------------------------------- July events This week until Sat 6th, Eon, ASDA Entrance Thu 4th Fri 5th Sat 6th, Gilded Lili Craft Fair, Pyramid area Thursday 4th, Work Ways advertise our services to the unemployed more in line with the changes in government legislation, Cone area Market Hall entr...

The latest 'Shop Elli' column from the Llanelli Star -  The team at the St Elli Shopping Centre is branching out into the world of social media. St Elli Shopping Centre manager Andrew Stephens said: “You can now find us on Facebook. Just look for – ‘St Elli Shopping Centre Llanelli’. And you can find us on Twitter. Follow @StElliCentre” “It’s a quick way of keeping in touch with what’s happening at the centre. And the social media streams will be carrying news of special offers on a regular basis.” ------------------------------------------- June/July events Wed 26th – Sat 29th, Ross Aldridge Solicitors, Cone area Wilkinson pillar Thursday 27th, The Sustainable Living Roadshow. Carmarthenshire Council, Pyramid area Thu 27th Fri 28th Sat 29th, Leukaemia, Cone area Market Hall entrance JULY Mon 1st – Sat 6th, Eon, ASDA Entrance Tuesday 2nd, Real Nappy Drop-In Surgeries, Cone area Market Hall entrance Thu 4th Fri 5th Sat 6th, Gilded Lili Craft Fair, Pyramid area Thu...

The latest 'Shop Elli' column from the Llanelli Star - Shops in Llanelli are continuing to sign up for the ‘Steal And Be Banned’ SABB scheme. SABB is a new initiative by the Dyfed-Powys police force and shops throughout Llanelli town centre are being encouraged to take part. The chairman of the initiative is St Elli Shopping Centre manager Andrew Stephens. Under the scheme, any person who steals from participating shops will be banned for an indefinite period from all shops in the area displaying the Steal And Be Banned logo. Mr Stephens said: “We want to make it clear that crime will not be tolerated. Llanelli is a safe place to shop and we want to make sure that it stays that way. But we do, of course, want as many shops as possible to participate in the scheme to ensure that it is effective.” Anyone interested in taking part can contact Mr Stephens at the shopping centre - 01554 746603 or email andrew@stelli.co.uk ------------------------------------------- June events Thurs...

The latest 'Shop Elli' column from the Llanelli Star - The team at the St Elli Shopping Centre is currently building a new website for the centre. The site is at http://www.stelli.co.uk/ “We’re keen to hear from people and their views on what they would like to see on the website,” said St Elli Shopping Centre manager Andrew Stephens. “Anyone who wants to make suggestions can email rlloydpr@btinternet.com “In addition, we have geared-up our social media presence. “You can find us on Facebook. Just look for – ‘St Elli Shopping Centre Llanelli’. “And you can find us on Twitter. Follow @StElliCentre ------------------------------------------- June events Saturday 1st, Llanelli Sea Cadets, Cone area Market Hall entrance. Tuesday 4th, Real Nappy Drop-In Surgeries, Cone area Market Hall entrance. Thursday 6th, Work Ways, advertising services to the unemployed more in line with the changes in government legislation, Cone area Market Hall entrance. Thu 6th Fri 7th Sat 8th, Gilded Lili ...

This is the new 'Shop Elli' column for the Llanelli Star -  One of Llanelli’s oldest and best-loved businesses has given a vote of confidence to the St Elli Shopping Centre in Llanelli. Saul Cass Jewellers has just renewed its lease at No14 in the centre. “It’s very much a vote of confidence in the success of the centre,” said owner Laurence Cass, the third generation of the Cass family to run the business “We have been associated with the St Elli Shopping Centre from the very beginning. We were one of the ‘founder’ shops when it first opened more than 15 years ago. “We had a long and happy association with the centre and we obviously look forward to it continuing for many years to come after signing a new lease agreement with the shopping centre owners. “Footfall through the centre is very impressive and we have a large clientele of regular customers who know our friendly staff so very well. We see the new lease as a slap on the back to the St Elli shopping centre for a job ...