December 2019 / January 2020 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.
This issue includes the event guide for the BBxpo business exhibition and networking event in Bideford on Thursday 24 October 2019.
Business Action Plan and magazine subscribers receive priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/plans
ENTERPRISE
business
ACTION
Future success is in your hands
Can we do it? Yes, we have!
From Alan Williams’ idea to
hold a business exhibition came
BBxpo in October 2018.
From that first BBxpo event
came the drive to publish the
first issue of Business Action,
in February this year, after
Robert Zarywacz had been
thinking about it.
Here we are a year later,
having held the second, more
successful BBxpo and having
published our first year’s worth
of magazines.
Did we have a plan? Sort of,
but, more importantly, we had
a vision and the determination
to achieve it.
We have adapted our plan,
so that we started out with big
ideas for North Devon Enterprise
Day, but diverted our
energies when selected as one
of Small Business Saturday’s
#SmallBiz100 from businesses
ADVERTISING
Alan Williams
Advertising, Distribution & Publisher
t: 07970 671192
e: alan@business-action.co.uk
across the UK. It’s essential to
be flexible in business so that
you can adapt to changing
circumstances and take up
unexpected opportunities.
Can you do it? Yes, you can!
How about your business? Is
it doing well or do you need
EDITORIAL
Robert Zarywacz
Editor, Designer & Publisher
t: 07971 176044
e: robertz@business-action.co.uk
@robertz
to work on it to achieve your
goals? Actually, everyone needs
to work on their business.
If we can make a success of
BBxpo and Business Action,
we believe anyone can succeed
when they put their mind to it
and we are pleased to support
North Devon entrepreneurs.
Use all available resources
There are many initiatives and
sources of help for your business
– use them all:
➤➤Small Business Saturday
➤ ➤£10 to £1 million
➤➤Support agencies
➤➤Networking
➤➤And more . . .
Running a business in uncertain
times requires us to be
vigilant and positive.
Remember that every other
business is experiencing the
same uncertainty as you and
none of us is alone.
North Devon is a business
powerhouse and Business
Action is here to shout about it.
We believe 2020 will bring
many opportunities, so let’s
prepare to take these up and
make a success of them.
FOCUS ON
MANUFACTURING
Small Business Saturday is
the national campaign to build
support for small businesses –
this year on 7 December.
Register to join for free at
smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com
Business Action has been
selected as a #SmallBiz100 –
one of 100 UK businesses – and
will represent North Devon at a
House of Lords reception.
In this issue we celebrate
small businesses across North
Devon. We will also be active
on social media on the day and
running a competition with
a prize of free PR advice for
businesses – follow us on social
media for a chance to win.
>>> PAGES 4 – 9
BBxpo is North Devon’s
biggest business-to-business
exhibition and networking
event and opened its doors
to visitors on Thursday 24
October 2019.
Read about the businesses
who exhibited, visited,
attended the free presentations
and training, and enjoyed
networking over the biggest
free lunch in North Devon.
BBxpo returns for its third
year on Thursday 29 October
2020. Past exhibitors are
already keen to rebook their
stands, so contact us now
to ensure your place – book
stands online at bbxpo.uk.
>>> PAGES 10 – 13
Manufacturing is a key sector
contributing substantially to
the success of the North Devon
economy, but it is sometimes
forgotten because much of
this activity takes place hidden
from view in large buildings
tucked away on business parks.
It has always been Business
Action’s intention to give
manufacturers the publicity
they deserve and in this issue
we make several site visits to
learn about their achievements.
If you are a manufacturer
and would welcome a site visit
and interview for a future
article, please contact us. We’ll
be pleased to visit.
From 10 to a million – that’s
what we can achieve if just
over half the population of
North Devon and Torridge
switch £10 of spending from
an online giant or national
company to a local business on
one day – £1 million.
Sounds crazy, but it is
achievable. All we have to do
is pause before we make any
purchase – either personal or
for business – and consider
whether we can buy from a
local business.
And when we do buy
locally to share it with the
#10to1m hashtag.
Let’s do it!
>>> PAGES 14 – 17 >>> PAGE 22
@businessactionm | December 2019 / January 2020 | business action 1