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 Wool Shop
This month we feature two of the nicest people you will ever meet. Mother and Son team, Marie and Adam, together run Nairn Wool Shop which has been a feature of Nairn town centre for more than 16 years. They started off where Crafty Wee Birdie now is, then moved over to where the Grapemonger now is, and have been in their present premises for five years, tucked away down Falconer’s Lane between the High St and the car parks.
Adam with a Wheels of Nairn rosette which he handcrafted for the event’s winners.
Building on her background as an artist and with over 50 years’ experience of practical crafting, Marie has run social and learning groups alongside her supply business for years. They run four weekly “knit and knatter” groups designed as a sociable, safe space for anything you can do in your hands, and can fit in up to 20 folk a time. These occasions are really a lifeline for many, says Adam: “We really like to make sure we provide a great service, to see people happy and smiling with their purchases when they leave the shop is what makes us tick.”
Adam joined his mum (after a very successful career as a confectioner with Harry Gow’s and Asher’s) seven years ago, when he could see that she was putting in such long days as well as having built the business into something really special. He learnt all the crafts from then so that was a steep learning curve! He says lockdown, although horrible, and tough, really made him realise that they wanted to make a massive effort into keeping the business going and making a success of it into the future.
As well as hosting their own groups, the studio space in the shop is hired out to local teachers who do felting, seaglass jewellery and art classes. Marie and Adam both offer 1-1 classes in anything – knitting, crochet, sewing or felting, tailored to what the person wants to learn. They are occasionally helped out by, and want to extend their thanks to, their lovely lady volunteers!
Coming up, they have just received their delivery of new stock for the Autumn and Winter season including some adorable Christmas things, and YARNSTRAVAGANZA is coming up this week. Organised by the UKHKA who organise all kinds of national events for brick-and-mortar shops, it will be a week of workshops and special offers. From 30th sept – 7th oct. You can find out more by keeping an eye on the Wool Shop’s Facebook and Instagram.
They report that they have had a really successful summer and the visitors that make up a large part of their customer base are now back in droves. They are lucky to have regular visitors from the islands, far flung Highlands and even Edinburgh and London. Nairn is very lucky to have such a destination shop, and Marie and Adam are great supporters of VisitNairn – they think it is vital that Nairn has a good tourist profile.
They would like to see a couple of coach spaces designated in one of Nairn’s car parks. Last year, Adam learnt how to make rosettes for the Wheels of Nairn show which he says is his pleasure to support – always good to learn a new skill – and we would be lost without them now!
Future plans include a vision to buy their premises, expand the studio and the range of items they sell – this would join a long list of local wools and yarns, knitting and crochet accessories, fabrics and supplies for quilting and patchwork, threads, zips, ribbons and buttons, and supplies for all kinds of textiles-based crafts as well as easy to use kits. Watch this space! The Wool Shop is a dynamic force for good in the town and set to be a fixture for many years to come.
