Kings Heath Business Association

It's the way you sell 'em - (20th March 2008)

THE UK retail sector covers everything from large department stores sprawling though major cities through to independent traders on your local High street.
Everything that can be bought in the UK will be handled by some form of retailer.
But whether you want to sell food and drink or clothes, there are some key skills needed to succeed in this fast-paced world.
Birmingham Mail reporter Patrice John met butcher Stan Hems and manager Richard Baker to find out what life is like in the world of retail.

BUTCHER Stan Hems claims the secret of success in the world of retail hinges on the way you treat your customers.
"Good service and civility are the key," the 65 year old said.
"You can't think of serving the customer for just one day, because if you want them to come back you need to look after them.
"A butcher gave me some advice that I've always stuck to. He said: 'If you wouldn't sell it to your mother, you've no business selling it lo the customer.'
"The quality of the service and the product stays in the customer's mind. They might moan about the price but if it is good then they will remember you for the right reasons."
Stan owns Johnstans Butchers, in High Street, Kings Heath and has been in the area for 51 years.
At the age of eight Stan began running errands for staff at Tuskin, an Acocks Green butchers and Wren-sons, a grocer in the same area.
But Stan's formal qualifications were gained at Hartfield Crescent
Secondary School. Stan's father held high hopes of him becoming an apprentice tool maker, but Stan had other ideas.
"My dad was devastated when I said I wanted to be a butcher," he said.
"He worked at Lucas and he said if I worked there I would have a job for life but I wanted to do something else.
"I am so glad I did as I've been able to do lots of different things and I have a broader view of life.
"I really don't regret my choice."
Stan's business is so successful his 38-year-old son Stephen is now manager.
His son Lee, aged 39, used to work for him part time but now works for construction and carpentry company Chris Lee.
His key advice to would-be butchers is to make sure they like working with people,
"If you don't like people, you should find a job where you can sit behind a desk all day as this is not the job for you," he said.
"Find a job where you can work with people, work hard and be the best. Then make sure you stick with it."

Butcher in dud banknote chase - (7th December 2007)

A sharp-eyed shopkeeper may have put a stop to a major crime operation passing off forged banknotes in Kings Heath.

His swift actions led to a dramatic chase along the High Street as the suspect fled through lunchtime shoppers with two local butchers in hot pursuit.

Stan Hems Kings Heath butcher

Shop owner Stan Hems said he was offered a £20 note by a woman on Friday lunchtime and he was immediately suspicious that it was a forgery.

"The note looked brilliant, but the paper just didn't feel right. Then when I held it up to the light I notice part of the watermark was missing," says Stan.

He says he challenged the woman who then offered him what he thought was another fake note. When he mentioned calling the police she ran out of the shop and up the High Street. Sixty year old Stan gave chase along with a younger member of staff who caught the woman and brought her back to the butchers' shop until the police arrived.

A car was also checked during the police operation that followed and it is claimed that almost £3000 of alleged forged banknotes were recovered.

KINGS HEATH: Multi-million pound medical centre set to open in New Year £1.9m All Saints will preserve us! - (29th November 2007)

• MOVING AHEAD... The Reverend Canon John Wilkinson in front of the stone laid to commemorate the first phase are (from (left) John Wilkinson and
of the All Saints Community Development Project in Kings Heath. Also pictured Richard Goddard, Provisional grant master of Worcestershire and Robert E Vaughan Deputy Grant Master of Worcestershire.

KINGS Heath residents are set to welcome the new year with the opening of a long-awaited multi-million pound medical centre.
The £1.9 million centre is part of All Saints Church Development Project which will include an overhaul of church facilities and the building of community rooms on site.
The completion of the centre is just Phase One of the project and will include a doctor's surgery, a pharmacy and health care provision.
Reverend John Wilkinson at the church said: "This will bring a new centre to Kings Heath and it will be the heart of the community.
"This will be the church's way of opening up and allowing people to access our work.
"We are hoping this will bring people on site and we will be encouraging people to see that this designed building has been completed for their benefit.
"The project has had a lot of wider support in the area and I'm sure people are looking forward to using it."
The medical centre is set to open for use by the public in mid-January 2008. There will be a formal opening ceremony conducted by Rt Revd Bishop David Urquhart on March 8, 2008.

The second phase of the project which is expected lo cost £2.3 million will include a cafe, community hall, meeting rooms, elderly resource centre and a welcome area.
Revd Wilkinson said: "The completion of the medical centre will be a major landmark for us.”It has been a real struggle at times but inspite of all of the difficulties, we have got through it. The centre will give good public provision for the people of Kings Heath and number of health needs will catered for in one space."

City’s Fourth Successful BID - (28th August 2007)

Following in the footsteps of Broad Street BID, the City Centre’s Retail BID & Erdington BID, businesses in King's Heath have voted in favour to become Birmingham’s fourth Business Improvement District (BID) area.

Of those voting, 74.4% voted in favour of the BID (53.6% by rateable value). The BID will generate approximately £120,000 each year for the next five years which the BID Company will use for projects that will deliver a cleaner, safer, greener and more welcoming King's Heath and help sustain its status as a 'vibrant urban village'.

The King's Heath BID opportunity was proposed by the King's Heath Business Association and supported by Birmingham City Council.

Stan Hems, Chairman of King's Heath Business Association, said: "I and my fellow business association members are delighted that businesses in King's Heath feel passionate enough about our centre's future to support this initiative".

Graham Kay, Business Improvement District Facilitator, said: “this is a great opportunity for the businesses in King's Heath to directly influence their trading environment. King's Heath has become only the second local centre in the United Kingdom to achieve this status".

End.

For more information contact:

Graham Kay
Business Improvement District Facilitator
King's Heath Centre Partnership
07970 85 17 17
grahamkay@kingsheathbid.info

Stan Hems
Chairman
King's Heath Business Association
0121 444 4344 - or 07971 144 221
stanhems@kingsheathbid.info

Additional notes for Editors:

A BID is a partnership between the business community and other local stakeholders to develop and take forward action to benefit the trading environment and the public realm such as cleanliness, safety, greening and marketing.

Businesses lead the process and identify the areas and the issues which they feel need addressing.

A BID Proposal pla is contructed and voted upon by eligible businesses within the defined BID area.

Stroke Assocition Charity Evening on 5th October 07 - (28th August 2007)

The Stroke Association in Kings Heath are holding a Charity 'Live Band' Karaoke Evening at the Kings Heath Cricket Club on Friday 5th October 2007. For further details contact

slane@stroke.org.uk

Marks & Spencer eyes site in city suburb - (19th feb 2007)

THIS is not just any Birmingham suburb - this could soon be a Marks & Spencer suburb.
The nationwide retailer has confirmed it is interested in opening a store in Kings Heath's hustling shopping centre following weeks of intense rumour.
Local traders had been speculating that M&S was planning to set up shop in the old Cash Converter store on the High Street.
And although Marks & Spencer is continuing lo remain tighl-lipped over its exact plans, a spokeswoman today
said: "We do have an interest in the area, but as yet nothing has boon confirmed."
The arrival of Marks & Spencer would be a major coup for Kings Heath which has been criticised in the past for its high number of charity shops and cheap discount stores.
But there are already signs of a move up market with the recent arrival of a string of independent retailers.
They include a French patisserie, Maison Mayci, and boutique clothing and gift shop People, in Poplar Road.
York Road is also undergoing a revival with the arrival of an independent florist and interiors shop Little "a", designer clothes store Chatterbox and organic restaurant and food store The Kitchen
Garden Cafe. Last month plans for a new multi-million pound village square in the grounds of All Saints Church on High .Street were unveiled.
Local butcher Stan Hems is chairman of the Kings Heath Business Association.
Mr. Hems, who runs Johnstans Family Butchers, said he would welcome the arrival of a Marks & Spencer store in Kings Heath.
"We want decent businesses like Marks & Spencer in Kings Heath.
'It would give the area a real lift. At the moment there arc too many charity shops.
"I don't mind a few but we need real businesses too which will create real jobs and investment in the area."

Birmingham Evening Mail 19.2.07

Village square plan to help house prices - (9th January 2007)

David Ritchie, chairman of The All Saints Community Development Project and local businessman Stanley Hems celebrating the go-ahead of the project.

A multi-million pound plan to create a village square in a Birmingham suburb is expected to boost house prices in the area by as much as £30,000, residents say. The innovative scheme, which could act as a blueprint for future urban regeneration across the country, aims to put the heart back into the community of Kings Heath.

The square will be located in the grounds of historic All Saints Church at the Vicarage Road junction with the High Street and include a cafe, outdoor seating, village hall and medical centre.

A charitable company, called the All Saints Community Development Company consisting of local traders and church representatives, was set up eight years ago to raise funds for the £4.5 million drive.

Over the weekend the organisation signed a contract with a developer to begin construction work at the end of this month.

David Ritchie, chairman of the development company, said: "We see it as a major event in the life of Kings Heath.”We are in an area that is very mixed socially but nevertheless there is a great deal of poverty here.
"It is a shopping centre that needs to be revitalised. We think what we are doing will help that process.” When we have finished the scheme there will be a village square linking the new development and the church into the High Street.

It will be much more open." The project represents an attempt to recreate a village feel to a busy urban environment with the church regaining its medieval position at the centre of the community. It is intended that events such as an existing monthly Kings Heath Farmers Market will take place in the square.

Stan Hems, chairman of the Kings Heath Business Association who owns
Johnstans Butchers on the High Street, said: "The church 600 years ago was used for everything. It was the law courts, it was where you met the doctor, it was the focal point for the whole community. We are trying to put healthy living and spiritual welfare at the heart of the community. We are putting a centre into Kings Heath where we can hold village functions and improve the quality of life."
Mr. Hems claimed the scheme would increase the desirability of the area and boost house prices by between £20,000 and £30,000.

Lynda Williams, of estate agents Robert Oulsnam on the High Street, said: "In the long-term I think that is absolutely realistic. The word about this will spread in schools and make people want to stay in the area and move within the area to larger homes. Because of that I think it will put the prices up."
Funding for the programme has come from loans, the church, donations and other sponsors including the city council.

The first phase, which involves the relocation of a doctors' surgery and the setting up of a health centre, pharmacy, dentist and opticians in the church grounds, should be complete by the end of the year.
The second phase includes the development of the square and cafe while the
third will involve creation of a village hall, youth centre, day facility elderly and meeting rooms for which funding is currently being sought.
Patrons of the scheme include leader of Birmingham Labour party former leader of the City Council Sir Albert Bore, historian Carl Chinn, Chief Constable of West Police Paul Scott-Lee, local MPs and the former Bishop of Birmingham John Sentamu.

Article by The Birmingham Post 9 January 2007

Prime Beef-y Stan is a Hero - (26th April 2006)

By Catherine Ulllngton (Birmingham Mail)

A BUTCHER has been hailed a modem day St George for his community crusading.

Stan Hems, of Warwick Road . Solihull , has bison a councillor, manager of a youth football team and is the chairman of Kings Heath Business Association.

The 63-year-old stalwart, whose butcher's shop Johnstans is in Kings Heath High Street, has also boon known to help people off the street and find them shelter.

As a result, of Stan's actions CCTV cameras were installed to reduce crime in High Street and Christmas decorations have gone up there for the past three years.

The grandad is currently campaigning for a doctor's surgery and a youth centre, in a new village square. Kings Heath will also stage its first farmer's market on May 6, again thanks to Stan.

Stan was one of only four people selected from more than 100 across England lo he named a 21st century St George in corn-peiition backed by cricket legend Inn "Beefy" Botham.

Stan was awarded with a medal and a weekend in London worth £3,000.

"I just enjoy community work, bul you don't do it just to pick up an award," said Stan.

"Being a Brummie, I always celebrate St George's Day, but my wife Valerie's taking the mickey now I've won this title and is calling me her hero."

Former England skipper Botham said: "I believe in celebrating everything great about England .

" Stanley is a fine example of an Englishman who strives for his country and continues to do good work.

"There are so many truly great people out there who do so much for their communities, yet never get the chance to shine. This first modem day St George award for local heroes is a great initiative to acknowledge their efforts."

Importance of small shops - Posted 10.4.06

It is encouraging to see, probably for the first time in Parliamentary history, that a group of MP's has acknowledged the importance of the small retail sector to our national life. As well as the sector's key economic role in creating wealth and stimulating entrepreneurship, employment, skills and innovation, the MP's have highlighted the wider social benefits of small retail outlets. These include the only means of access for many people to vital goods and services, support for many of the increasingly diverse communities in our society and positive engagement in local community affairs.

More to the point, the MP's have expressed concern about the intense pressure small shops face including the aggression of larger competitors, distortion of the supply chain, the cost of property, crime, poor planning decisions, lack of appropriate business support and disproportionate regulatory burdens.

The Inquiry into "High Street Britain:2015" published in mid February by the All-Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group identifies a widespread belief that many small shops across the UK will have ceased trading by 2015 with few independent businesses taking their place. It said that their loss, largely the result of a heavily unbalanced trading environment, will damage the UK socially, economically and environmentally.

Now the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the Director General of the Office of Fair Trading and other relevant Ministers and officials need to take serious note and act on the dozen or so recommendations whilst there is still some of the traditional High Street left to save.

In particular, Kings Heath Business Association fully supports the recommendations to review the tax relief systems, to review the impact of local planning, car parking, traffic flow and similar decisions and to delegate greater power to people locally.

Although Regulators in various industries have produced mixed results, the establishment of a Retail Regulator would help to keep the focus on High Street issues on the boil and help to circumvent the Office of Fair Trading who are toothless in dealing with other than strict competition issues to the exclusion of the wider social and non commercial benefits generated by independent retailers. As the report identifies, what is required is a range of progressive policies and measures locally, regionally and nationally over the short medium and long term that will redress the balance and so help to sustain a healthy and competitive market place, and protect people and local economies. The challenge now is to get the Government and local authorities to accept the finding and act on the Inquiry's recommendations.

Stan Hems

Chairman - Kings Heath Business Association

Monthly Farmers' Market to boost suburb - Posted 10.4.06

Birmingham Evening Mail article

A MONTHLY farmers' market is being launched in Kings Heath.
Fresh fruit, vegetables and other organic produce will all be on sale from next month.
Chairman of Kings Heath Business Association, Stan Hems, said: "The market will bring more people to the area. We are hoping that if they come once they will see how good the shops are and come back at another time.
"This market will promote healthy living as it is all fresh food."
The first market will be held on Saturday, May 6, in the grounds of All Saints Church on the corner of Vicarage Road and High Street.
It starts at 9am and runs until 3.30pm.
The Business Association are still seeking stall holders to join the market on the day. • Contact Mr Hems on 0121 444 4344, Paul Tyrrell on 07971 144221 or visit www.khba.org for further details.

Charity Shops in Kings Heath - Posted 21.2.06

Dear Sir/Madam

The continual development of out of town shopping centres, and in some locations extensive complexes, has irreversibly changed the character and atmosphere of the traditional town and city suburban High Street. It was in those situations that the craft-based specialist food supplier existed and prospered; the butcher, baker, fishmonger, grocer and greengrocer. Housewives brought their children with them as they looked in the windows of the various shops as they made their choice of purchases, talking to the vendors about the produce and ways of cooking. It was through that normal and natural process that young persons learned about natural food instead of TV publicised convenience "junk" food.

Now most of those shops are Banks, Estate Agents or Charity Shops in the latter the major bogey, being the cause of unrealistic rent inflation. Charity shops out bid all comers for prime sites as they have no product to purchase and no staff to pay for, on top of which they get preferential business rate reductions, in the majority of cases zero. In one city suburb where I have a butchers shop there were 31 butchers in the vicinity, now I am the only remaining butcher; virtually surrounded by 16 Charity shops, Banks and Building Societies. Supermarkets have not so much expanded only through their obvious convenience factor as much as High Street's deterioration through the loss of "product mix", multiple source availability and extensive competition. One thing is certain; there will be no going back. The independent butcher will prosper as he caters for what is now, and will increasingly be, a "niche" market. The blame for the urban dereliction can only fall on Government in allowing Local Authority planning indifference to persist. So what about the small trader some would say it's time to put a quota on Charities shops per square mile as we are all subsidising the rates for the Charity shops who are exempt or pay very little.

There has been a "Minister for Small Business" in a number of governments; all of them more talk than action. It's time for government and local Authorities to consider "start up grants" for artisan food traders: before only supermarkets are left to service their voting public.

Stan Hems

Chairman of Kings Heath Business Association www.kingsheathbusinesses.org

President of the Birmingham and District Butchers Association