Eager Anne rises to new challenge

AFTER 21 years working for the same insurance company, Anne Jones was looking for a new challenge.

She had to. She was made redundant.

That is a distant memory now thanks to the business she has run from home in Swansea for the past 18 months.

It is called raring2go, and that is exactly what she was after setting it up.

The end product is a free magazine claiming to be the definitive guide to what to do and where to go for children and their mums and dads.

Primary schools in the county form her market. Three issues a year — tying in with term time and the subsequent holidays — are produced to give helpful pointers about what is on for the younger element.

"I wanted to do something different," said Anne, of Summerland Lane in Newton.

The opportunity came after attending the National Franchise Show at Birmingham's NEC.

She talked to the organisers of the raring2go concept and the next thing had picked up the franchise to run it in South Wales. And she has never looked back since.

"I had been made redundant and went to the Birmingham show," she said. "I had heard of the idea and got the franchise."

Back home it was a case of turning the high hopes she had for it into reality. A bedroom was turned into an office and she was up and running. Her phone became a hotline as she sought advertisers from around South Wales and beyond.

"I take in places like Bristol Zoo and Oakwood as well as local venues and events," she said. "There are adverts and a bit of editorial like education pieces."

The content includes information about events like mountain boarding, dance and drama, cinemas and leisure centres. But as well as exploring the entertainment avenue, it also guides parents towards areas where they may welcome help such as dyslexia tuition for their children.

Over the next few days, Anne will be preparing to distribute the next batch of 32-page magazines. There are 10,000 to hand out.

"They go to primary schools, but children there have got older brothers and sisters," she said. "I package them in class sizes with the teacher's name on them. It is very time consuming. Then I box them up in the car and deliver them. That takes three or four days."

Compiling the magazine is not a nine to five operation. Some people are not available until the evening or at weekends, and she also tries to promote a personal touch where possible.

"It is not nine to five, more as and when," she said. "I also try to meet people as well."

Anne swaps ideas and contacts with people from many walks of life at regular breakfast meetings of a South West Wales networking group. It all helps to build a fuller picture of what is on for the younger market.

And it is an exciting time just now, with the next issue due out next week. She could not do it without demand in the market place, though, and the schools certainly provide it.

"The schools have been fantastic and I really love doing it," she said.

It will be a busy time for Anne over the next week or so and an anxious one next month when the Swansea Bay Tourism Awards 2008 will be announced. Her business is one of more than 150 which have entered. The Brangwyn Hall is the place to be on Thursday, November 20, when the winners in 14 sponsored categories will be revealed.

Fed Pereira, director of Pear Distribution which is sponsoring the best activity/attraction prize, said: "In an industry where competition to attract visitor numbers is tough, it is of vital importance that attractions go that extra mile to provide everything a visitor could want."

Sponsor of the best visitor experience slot is Home from Home, and owner Matthew Bound said it was all about those who made an extraordinary effort to provide more than what was expected.

"If tourism is to continue to grow, a positive visitor experience is vital in ensuring that holidaymakers leave with a good impression of the area and a desire to return," he said.

The deadline for entries has now passed and the judges are getting down to sifting through them all for what will be a tough task.

November 20 will be the second awards ceremony, following on from the first one in 2006. Then, as now, the aim was to celebrate the many world-class tourism and leisure businesses in Swansea Bay.

"They recognise excellent quality of service, hospitality, customer care and promoting local distinctiveness and Welsh identity," said spokeswoman Cathy Lewis. "And they conclude into the largest networking event for businesses this year at the awards ceremony at the Brangwyn Hall.

"The evening, attended by approximately 300 guests, will include a drinks reception, dinner including wine, awards and live entertainment.

"All businesses are invited to attend the awards ceremony and if your business has product samples or discount vouchers, you would be welcome to put them in the goodie bags for guests to take away, which presents an excellent free marketing opportunity."

Call Tourism Swansea Bay for tickets on 01792 403339. Anne Jones can be contacted on 01792 366327.

web links

www.swanseabaytourismawards.co.uk

www.raring2go.co.uk