Pocket Guides go from strength to strength

It is three years since the Alresford Pocket Guide, a collaborative project between Cradduck Design Company, Alresford Chamber of Commerce and Winchester City Council, was launched to replace the old ‘Spend a Day in Alresford’ leaflet. A resounding success then, it has been updated and reprinted as a 24 page, full colour guide that does what it says on the tin – tells you where to eat, shop, stay and visit, and fits in your pocket.

Such was the success of the original Alresford Guide, Cradducks and Winchester City Council have also produced similar publications for Wickham and Bishop’s Waltham. And the City Council also asked Cradducks to produce the 2010 Winchester Pocket Guide.

Cradduck Design Company is known locally for the design of guides and promotional materials to the Alresford Show, Alresford Watercress Festival, Hampshire Farmers Market and the 2010 Winchester Hat Fair.

The driving force behind the New Alresford project is the Alresford Chamber of Commerce. This local group of business leaders continues to show their focus in supporting and promoting local business.

Pictured left to right are Simon Evans, chairman of Alresford Chamber of Commerce; Ann Brown, Special Projects Manager at Cradduck Design; and John Somers, senior designer of the guide and an Associate Director at Cradducks. Feedback has been fantastic already, Ann Brown reports: “I have already received a number of very positive and complimentary emails and calls about the Pocket Guide. Local traders are keen to support this kind of publication as it is such a useful source of reference for the many tourists and visitors to Alresford. This series of Pocket Guides really has proved very successful and we aim to encourage other towns of a similar size to have their own.”

The Alresford Pocket Guide is also available online on Alresford Chamber’s new website at www.alresfordchamber.co.uk, the electronic version including interactive links to advertisers and listings. “This great new feature allows the publication to be seen by a much larger audience and  complements the printed version available through the normal tourist outlets. The chamber members should be very proud” says Simon Evans, Chair of Alresford Chamber of Commerce 

Another local trader, Natasha Thomas, of Natasha Thomas Flowers in West Street, added, “This is just what Alresford needs, it is such a useful marketing tool for the town.”