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

  TRIBUTES have been paid to the man whose name was synonymous with shopping and business in Llanelli, Mr TH Gilmore (Gil) Jones. Universally known throughout the town as Gil or Gilmore, he died on Sunday, October 20, aged 82. Gilmore won the Llanelli Star’s Community Champion award in 2010 – an honour which reflected his busy life in retail in the town and his wider interests in supporting community life. Gilmore was President of Llanelli Chamber of Trade and Commerce between 2006 and 2009 and played a key role in supporting the Special Olympics Carmarthenshire club and his award-winning daughter Llinos. His good friend Andrew Stephens, who succeeded Gilmore as manager of the St Elli Shopping Centre in 2014, said: “To say he will be missed is an understatement as Gilmore was part of the fabric of community life in Llanelli.” Andrew, who is now a Llanelli Rural councillor, added: “Gilmore wore his heart on his sleeve and was 100 per cent committed to Llanelli and the people of the ...

Show your support to the high street and visit Carmarthen Market this Friday. Traders are celebrating the National Support Your High Street campaign. Not only will you be able to do your shopping but you will also be entertained by Radio Cymru broadcaster Marc Griffiths. There will also be cookery demonstrations using produce from the market by Lisa Fearn of the Pumpkin Patch Kitchen & Garden. Between 11am and 3pm Marc Griffiths will be finding out more about the goods available to buy in the market as well as finding out more about some of the traders.  Shoppers will be able to see some of the clothing and accessories close up and taste some of the flavours of the market with tasters. Come and see the county council stand at the former Computabuilda unit in the centre of the market hall. Carmarthenshire County Council’s executive board member responsible for markets, Cllr Jeff Edmunds, said: “It’s great to see the traders coming together and supporting this national camp...

Visiting the Eisteddfod? Don’t forget to take advantage of the free shuttle buses and head into Llanelli town as well. The town boasts a range of independent and high street stores or if you fancy a bite to eat there’s a number of cafes, restaurants and pubs to choose from. Whilst in the town pay a visit to the indoor market – boasting a host of independent traders all under the one roof, selling everything from fresh, local produce including meats, fish, fruit and vegetables to newspapers, cards, clothing, hairdressers, cafes and much more. The market is open from 8am-5pm each day and Llanelli outdoor market is held every Thursday. Don’t forget to check for any deals in the free ‘Discover Carmarthenshire through Discounts’ booklet which offers some exclusive deals that you can enjoy whilst you explore Carmarthenshire. The booklet is available in copies of Carmarthenshire News, Llanelli Star and Carmarthen Journal, in the Eisteddfod Caravan pack and in outlets around the county and o...

The landmark St Elli Shopping Centre in Llanelli has been sold to a new retail firm. London-based NewRiver Retail Limited, the UK’s fourth largest owner/manager of shopping centres, has bought the centre from insurance group Axa on a freehold basis for £29.2m. “It’s all good news as far as the shopping centre is concerned,” said St Elli Centre manager Andrew Stephens. “This is a thriving and vibrant shopping centre which will always be attractive to investors,” said Mr Stephens. “The sale has been on the table for a number of months, but contracts have now been exchanged and we are able to talk openly about the move. “In terms of what happens on a day-to-day basis at the shopping centre, nothing really changes. We have new owners, but it is business as usual and we view the sale as a real vote of confidence in the centre and the town of Llanelli. “Everyone who works here is very proud of the centre and we think the people of Llanelli and West Wales should be very proud of the centre ...

Llanelli received another shopping boost today with the opening of a new shop in the popular St Elli Shopping Centre. Card Centre started moving in to the centre last week and staff have today reported brisk trading on the first proper day of opening. The shop is the second new retail outlet to open in Llanelli following the launch of a new independent travel agency, Eastgate Travel, in Park Street. Andrew Stephens, the President of Llanelli Chamber of Trade and the manager of the St Elli Shopping Centre, said he was delighted to see the new shops opening. “It’s been a very good week for Llanelli, with the opening of Llanelly House being a new attraction. “Getting a good mix of attractions, shops, restaurants, cafes, service businesses and leisure facilities is crucial for any town centre. “I take my hat off to the team at Eastgate Travel for their new venture and welcome the Card Centre – a Welsh-based chain of shops – to the St Elli Shopping Centre. It’s all great news for Llanelli...

The St Elli Shopping Centre, the trading hub of Llanelli, welcomes another new 'shop' on Friday. It's going to be a 'shop with a difference' - an innovative mini car showroom featuring cars from Sinclair Volkswagen Swansea. “It’s something of a novelty when it comes to what we offer as a shopping centre,” said centre manager Andrew Stephens. “It’s very different to our more usual ‘shop’ operations, but Sinclair Volkswagen Swansea were keen on the unit and we think it brings something new and fresh to the shopping centre. “What is interesting is that there are companies out there willing and prepared to invest in Llanelli. “You get all this doom and gloom talk on occasions about Llanelli town centre as a shopping destination, but the High Street and the shopping experience is changing all the time. “It’s good news for the St Elli Shopping Centre that Sinclair Volkswagen Swansea are coming to town. "The arrival follows hot on the heels of the opening of th...

The sweet smell of success is arriving in Llanelli’s St Elli Shopping Centre this week. And the opening of the new Yankee Candle shop brings good jobs news for staff at the soon-to-close Dorothy Perkins fashion shop in Vaughan Street. Six members of the Dorothy Perkins team will be making the short walk to the cosy new Yankee Candle shop under the St Elli Pyramid. “It’s a spot of luck for us in that it has made recruitment for our new Yankee Candle shop very easy,” said proprietor Catherine Williams. “They say that as one door closes, another one opens. Gemma Buffrey from Dorothy Perkins is going to be our shop manager and she is bringing the other ladies with her, so I am getting a whole team all in one go.” Manager Gemma said: “Dorothy Perkins is due to close next month, so you can imagine it has been a stressful time for everyone. But this opportunity has come along, thanks to Catherine, and we are all chuffed to bits to get jobs at Yankee Candle.” The opening of the Yankee Cand...

The St Elli Shopping Centre, the trading hub of Llanelli, is moving into the fast lane. The centre is to have an innovative mini car showroom featuring cars from Sinclair Volkswagen Swansea. “It’s something of a novelty when it comes to what we offer as a shopping centre,” said centre manager Andrew Stephens. “It’s very different to our more customary ‘shop’ operations, but Sinclair Volkswagen Swansea were keen on the unit and we think it brings something new and fresh to the shopping centre. “What is interesting is that there are companies out there willing and prepared to invest in Llanelli. “You get all this doom and gloom talk on occasions about Llanelli town centre as a shopping destination, but the High Street and the shopping experience is changing all the time. “It’s good news for the St Elli Shopping Centre that Sinclair Volkswagen Swansea are coming to town – and they are likely to be followed very quickly by another new tenant at our shopping centre. “Negotiatio...

Shopmobility has wheeled into Llanelli after 12 years of trying. The store, with an initial eight scooters, opened at 16 Cowell Street on Monday, April 2. Shopmobility is a scheme which hires manual wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs and powered scooters to members of the public of all ages with limited mobility to shop and to visit leisure and commercial facilities within town centres. Carmarthenshire Council have guaranteed £30,000 for each of the first three years thanks to the support of a Welsh Government transport grant. Llanelli Company, LTC, is delivering the Llanelli operation. County head of transport and engineering Stephen Piliner said: “The Council has provided financial support to enable the scheme to get off the ground. We have supported a similar scheme in Carmarthen and it has encouraged a whole new range of shoppers and visitors to the town.”

Llanelli's   St Elli Shopping Centre is up for sale with offers invited in excess of £33 million. And a bidding war has started such is the interest in the busy centre. Owners Axa have already had two potential investors for the Centre which attracts electronically recorded footfall figures in excess of seven million a year-that’s 135,000 a week. The investors have visitors the Centre and the Llanelli Showcase which illustrates the dramatic £60million developments in the town. The 130,000sq ft Centre which has 24 units anchored by the 70,000sq ft Asda Store attracts an annual net rental of more than £2.5million. Carmarthenshire County executive board member for regeneration Cllr Clive Scourfield: said: “The marketing of St Elli by Axa is a really exciting development and shows a great confidence in Llanelli. “Ownership of shopping centres often passes from company to company as a result of changing circumstances. The Centre is being marketed because it is well let and to b...

30 jobs at new retailer | This is South Wales Single price retailer Poundworld has announced the opening of its new Llanelli store which will create 30 new retail jobs for the area. The store at Parc Trostre will officially open to the public on Friday.

BBC News - Six Bonmarche stores across Wales have been earmarked for closure A decline in customer spend and rising costs, in the current economic climate, is blamed for closure plans at six Bonmarche stores across Wales. Stores in Aberystwyth, Bangor, Brynmawr, Carmarthen, Newtown and Llanelli are on the list. Twenty other Bonmarche stores across Wales will remain open. Last month the fashion chain, which was part of the Peacocks Group, was bought by a private equity group Sun European Partners.

Poundworld snaps up unit | This is South Wales An empty unit at Llanelli's Parc Trostre has been snapped up by a discount store giant. The out-of-town retail park is in line for a new bargain shop as Poundworld confirmed it would be opening a store there.

Survey: Llanelli’s shops on top | This is South Wales Llanelli has proved itself to be top of the shops. The town centre has come up trumps during an evaluation of its independent shops and stalls. A team of mystery shoppers gave the town the thumbs up in a September survey aimed at evaluating its shopping experience.

Interesting piece in The Independent on the battle between High Street and Retail Parks with spotlight on Llanelli - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/store-wars-high-street-shops-call-for-help-in-their-struggle-with-the-giant-retail-parks-2360409.html

Shoppers in Carmarthenshire are being reminded about the introduction of the carrier bag charge. From October 1, 2011 there will be a minimum charge of 5p for every single-use carrier bag in Wales. The typical shopper in the UK uses anything up to 720 carrier bags every year. The Welsh Government wants to drastically reduce the amount of single-use bags we use which is why from October you’ll be charged for a bag wherever you shop. You don’t have to pay a penny though. By remembering to take your shopping bag with you every time you shop you’ll avoid the charge and save valuable resources. Each plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, and may never breakdown in landfill. Paper bags are not an environmentally friendly alternative; they are still a waste of natural resources. Even starch based biodegradable and fully compostable bags use natural resources. If these are only used for one trip and not composted, these are a bigger waste of resources than conventional plastic ca...

The new Burry Port Traders Forum will hold its first meeting early next month. Carmarthenshire County Council is establishing the forum along the same lines as the one for traders in Carmarthen’s King Street. Cllrs Stephen James, Pat Jones and Hugh Shepardson have written to businesses in the town inviting them to attend the inaugural meeting. They said: “This is in response to suggestions from many town traders that links with various sections of the council need to be improved so that you can know what is happening in our community and your concerns can be channelled to the most effective department. “This new forum will not be a new chamber of trade instead we hope to replicate the successful business fora currently in existence at Llanelli and Carmarthen.” It is envisaged that the forum will meet regularly throughout the year or when an issue arises. The council’s Head of Economic Development Wendy Walters, who will be attending the meeting to give an update on economic development...

Supermarkets and stores will be charged £25 for each abandoned shopping trolley recovered by Carmarthenshire County Council. Environment executive board member Cllr Philip Hughes has taken an executive board member decision allowing officers to trace owners and charge them upwards of £25 every time. An officer’s report showed thousands of customers daily used trolleys at stores and supermarkets across Carmarthenshire. Retailers provided them at a cost of many millions of pounds, with trolleys costing more than £100 each. Unfortunately, some irresponsible people leave their shopping trolleys unattended in streets and public places risking injuring passers by or damaging property and vehicles. Cllr Hughes said abandoned trolleys also had an environmental impact when they entered drains and waterways and interfered with the provision of public services. County environment enforcement officer Paul Morris said they wanted trolleys to stay on shop premises and the motivation to take this act...

The tills rang out a bumper Christmas week in Llanelli and Carmarthen. After the early December freeze and snow white-out, Carmarthen’s St Catherine's Walk Centre bounced back with a record footfall of 234,000 recorded between December 23rd-30th. This smashed the previous record set on the opening weekend of the centre in April, 2010, of 206,000. Llanelli’s St Elli Centre over the same Christmas week was up 15 per cent on the previous year to 159,000. On Thursday 23rd December there were 36,950 shoppers and on Christmas Eve with a 4pm close of trade time, 32,254 shoppers passed through the electronic counters. Both Llanelli and Carmarthen are bucking the national trend of falling footfall figures recorded by the Experian Footfall regional Index in shopping and retail centres. Nationally, figures are shown to be 20.1 per cent down and Wales 15.4 percent down. Llanelli figures show an increase of 2.3 per cent with as much as 15 per cent increases on some Christmas shopping days. Carm...

You can shop at M&S (Marks and Spencer, Trostre, Llanelli) -but can't use the changing rooms. Bit like a pub where you can walk in but can't try the beer!