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 – Nairn Car Sales
As the town gears up for Wheels of Nairn which takes place later this month, Nairn BID is delighted to put the spotlight on title sponsor of the event, Nairn Car Sales as our September member of month.
Dean and Hamish Clark, father and son team from Nairn Car Sales, who are the title sponsor of Wheels of Nairn. Picture from the 2022 event.
Nairn Car Sales is run by father and son team Hamish and Dean Clark and is the car sales sector of West End Garage which sponsored Wheels of Nairn when it first ran in 2019.
It’s very much a family-run business with Dean’s wife Kerry and mum Moira also involved.
The family purchased West End Garage in 1990 and now employs 13 members of staff including an apprentice. The team includes five technicians, a tyre fitter, valeter, front of house staff and an admin team.
Last July, the family took the decision to rebrand the car sales side of the business and Nairn Car Sales became the trading name.
Director Dean explained why: “West End Garage has always carried out car maintenance and car sales, but last year we decided it was time to market the two separately. The car maintenance side of the business was at capacity and still is and we decided it made sense to create a new trading name that can focus solely on the car sales side of things. Everything has stayed at the same location and we still offer the same great service but having the two trading names allows us to reach out to a wider audience and let them know what we are doing.”
However, over the last year, whilst Nairn Car Sales and West End Garage are still located on Inverness Road behind the Gulf Garage, the business has expanded with the purchase of land next to their existing premises.
“There’s a house there that went up for sale,” explained Dean, “it was a sensible business decision to purchase the property and the garden which we have now transformed into more forecourt space giving us room for a further 20 vehicles. It’s also given us a better visual presence for cars passing along the A96.
“We stock a great range of cars from your small get about towns, to more top of the range vehicles and we can source anything as well. At any one time we have about 25 ready to buy, although we are hoping to add to this.”
Dean was originally a chartered accountant, but joined the family business around six years ago as the service manager.
“There was just a need for someone else to join the business and I decided to get involved,” explained Dean. “For me, there’s no such thing as a typical day. I tend to deal with the car sales side of things and dad very much prefers to be in the workshop. Mum and Kerry deal with admin, but as with any family-run business, if something needs doing it, one of us will just scoop it up.”
Speaking about Wheels of Nairn, Dean added: “We are so excited that Wheels of Nairn is back. It is a brilliant event with so many amazing vehicles, great atmosphere, and of course, footfall. It was a super way for us to get the new Nairn Car Sales branding out there last year and we are delighted to be able to support the event again. We really enjoyed the day itself and it was wonderful being able to meet so many of the vehicle owners and learn more about their passion.”
