Opt-in membership is available to businesses that either exist out-with the catchment area of Nairn BID, or whose property’s rateable value lies below the £1000 threshold, but still wish to support the BID and receive most of the benefits that members do. As Nairn BID exists for the improvement of Nairn as a whole then supporting the BID can be a valuable way of saying to your customers that you as a business are contributing to making Nairn a better place.
Opt-in members receive the same benefits as other members, they just don’t have the voting rights that levy area businesses do when it comes to the renewal ballot for the BID. For the five year business plan which outlines the main areas of spending and objectives of Nairn BID, please click here.
They can apply for free stalls at our events and markets, benefit from free marketing and promotion (website listing, social media sharing and member of the month), and attend our meetings, business workshops and networking events.
Nairn BID organises street markets along the High Street several times a year. The BID also runs Taste of Nairn, Wheels of Nairn and the Countdown to Christmas events.
If you think your business would benefit by being part of the BID and you would like to join, please fill in our application form. You can also send us a photograph and listing wording for the VisitNairn website.
Opt-in membership starts from £125 a year. Membership runs for our financial year from 1st October to 30th September. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch – office@nairnconnects.com
Member of the Month – Highland Yoga Collective
August brought a real hustle and bustle to the High Street for our well-anticipated Nairn Market. Just one quick turn onto Acre Street, however, and you’d find yourself immersed into a more quiet and meditative state.
Nairn was greeted not only by a plethora of businesses at the Market, but also several renowned Yogi’s participating in the Scottish Yoga Conference tour. And their base: Highland Yoga Collective, our Member of the Month.
Highland Yoga Collective had a quirky stall at the Market promoting their studio and how the public can get involved whether it’s to try something new or totally destress. What really impressed passers-by was a large gong, which when struck offers a moment of calm.
Studio owner Fiona Palmer said: “We had great feedback from our stall at the Nairn Market. Hearing a gong on the High Street was a unique and engaging way to capture the passing audience and promote Lindsay’s sound baths. Neighbouring stalls kept asking us to play it!”
As part of their Open Day on Saturday 14th August, Highland Yoga Collective also hosted a series of free yoga taster sessions – including Kundalini and Vinyasa – led by Yogi’s from the Scottish Yoga Conference and local teachers. It proved to be a popular event amongst residents and visitors alike, with almost all classes fully booked!
Fiona continues: “Getting to promote the studio was great for our business as we are tucked in a wee side street – which is great for providing a quiet retreat to our clients – but equally means visibility can be an issue for the business.”
One of the many highlights of the tour was getting to ‘meet and greet’ Heart Space Yoga & Bodyworks Founder and ‘Kilted Yoga’ celebrity Finlay Wilson, who rose to fame in a video collecting over 100 million views. He even got a few cheeky snaps in the Nairn Scotland deck chair, which Highland Yoga Collective hosted outside their studio for the duration of the Scottish Yoga Conference*.
Fiona explains the importance of Nairn being one of the Scottish Yoga Conference’s tour destinations: “It was great to see how the whole of Scotland is being represented as a part of their tour, and not just larger cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Scottish Yoga Conference was massively important to me as a studio owner in a small Highland town.
After 18 months of online classes, it was a novelty and a relief for many to be able to attend classes in person again. Just like the attendees of the Nairn Market, the most common question to the Highland Yoga Collective about their classes and the Scottish Yoga Conference visit was, “when’s the next one?”
We would also like to spotlight Highland Yoga Collective’s charitable contributions. During their Open Day, class donations were combined with raffle entries – for which, Katrino donated candles from her business yogioils as prizes – to make a considerable sum which went directly to local charity Mikeysline.
It has never been more important to look after your mental health than now, after all the isolation that the pandemic has brought. Yoga can be very destressing and therapeutic, so get in touch with Fiona at the Highland Yoga Collective on 07773 310876 to see which classes would suit you best to participate in. If you feel you need text-based support, please contact 07786 207755.
*The Nairn Scotland deck chair is now being hosted by the Bandstand Bar & Restaurant. Would you like to host it next? Get in touch: office@nairnconnects.com
