Danni Segal, Slowly recovering The (ir)regular thoughts of Around-Bexhill.co.uk founder, Danni Segal, on life in Bexhill-on-Sea This column reflects the thoughts of Danni Segal, and does not claim to reflect the opinions of around-bexhill.co.uk or any of the shops or businesses listed on this site unless directly stated

Dateline: September 2007

Item: Reflections on Year One

They say a week is a long time in politics; I say a year is a short time in the life of a web site. As I sit here looking back over the last 12 months... actually, let me to clarify slightly. I talk about the last 12 months in respects of the site being up and running, but as with all births there is a lot that goes on before the infant arrives and so it was with this site.

The genesis of the site lies in a conversation with a local business owner about the apparent lack of promotion Bexhill was getting. At the time I had started doing web sites for local groups including The BATS and Hands Off The Conquest, and thought that maybe I could put together a web site to promote Bexhill. After checking around I found there was a few web sites already in place that promoted the town, but no-one was promoting the unique character of shopping in the town. Part of the reason I love Bexhill is the diversity and quirkiness of shopping here as opposed to the completely chainstore/out-of-town mentality taking over shopping these days, and this was something I felt I could do something about. I would create a web site to promote purely local shops and businesses. It all seemed so easy...

As is inevitably the case with “brilliant” ideas, they inevitably expand beyond what the originator had in mind, and so it was with Around Bexhill Project. As myself and Danielle (of whom, more on later) spoke with pretty much every shop and business in Bexhill town centre and Little Common, a number of interesting ideas were raised and I started expanding on what the aims of the site. As the ideas came along so the site evolved, with frequent work into the early hours as I tried to implement my latest brainwave.

The site launched, complete with launch party, on 1st September at the Garden Cafe. That was phase one complete - phase two would soon be underway with all the idea I wanted to implement...

...and then I contracted the virus. I won’t bore you with the details again - if you want to read them, click here - but it left me with limited energy and enthusiasm, and possessed of a very negative outlook on life. The irony of this was that the Around Bexhill Project was something I was as enthused and positive about as anything I had ever worked on.

The sad upshot of this is that I failed to deliver on what I wanted to do, what I intended to do. There is so much more that needs to be done, and it is only in recent weeks that I have once again have the drive and enthusiasm needed to get them done.

What have been my personal highlights and lowlights of working on the site?

The highlight is undoubtably getting to know so many wonderful people and so many wonderful businesses. I truly feel like part of a community, and this sense of community has always been an objective of this site.

Another highlight has been the stream of new shops and businesses which have established themselves in the town. The town has continued to diversify in the choice of shops and businesses available, and long may it be so. I can’t show bias here, but suffice is to say I have become a regular customer at a number of them.

The lowlights? Apart from the problems caused by my illness, there are a number of shops who have for varying reasons closed their doors (and, in at least one case, re-opened them). I don’t wish to mention particular names as I feel this would be unfair, but there are several businesses whose closure have left Bexhill a poorer place.

So is the site a success? I strongly believe so, but I also believe there is a lot more it can do. I have been talking and working with other people to try and ensure that my health will not be an issue in what comes next. Some of you may already know what is in the pipeline, but for those who don’t I’ll just say one word: CAMPAIGN!

Watch this space...

Item: Who Is Danielle?

A number of shops and businesses I have spoken to in the last week or so have been very positive about Danielle, the young lady who has been visiting them on my behalf as I continue to recover from my recent health problems. I felt it only fair that I use this space to say a few words about her, and to thank her publicly for all her hard work.

Danielle Leggatt (left), along with Clare Sayers (centre) and Lisa Segal (co-founder, right)

I first met Danielle soon after moving to Bexhill, when my wife and I joined the BATS (Bexhill Amateur Theatrical Society) to take part in the 2001 production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. As part of the younger contingent we inevitably ended up chatting and soon became friends which continues to this day.

Danielle is currently studying at Brighton University, and helping out with around-bexhill.co.uk has enabled her to earn some extra funds to support her during her time at university. Which ultimately means that this site not only supports local businesses, it also supports a local student at university.

Launching the site on the 1st September 2007 would not have been possible without Danielle’s help, and her work this Summer has been invaluable. If anyone wishing to employ her in the future would like a work or character reference, please get in touch and I will be more then happy to oblige.

And I’ll give the final words on Danielle to my 3 year old son, Ryan:

“I love you aunty Dan-Dan!”

Extra Item: 10th Wedding Anniversary

My wife and I celebrate 10 years of marriage on the 22nd of September.

This has nothing in particular to do with this site, but it is something I am very proud of and just wanted to share with the world.

Until next time,

Danni Segal
founder
around-bexhill.co.uk

Read past Bexhill Thoughts columns in the Archive