A MARKETING expert with three decades of experience has been announced as the latest addition to the Andover BID team.

Lesley-Ann Simmonds, part-owner of Photos2Print, in Bridge Street, has joined the organisation

Lesley-Ann has over 30 years’ experience in retail marketing, 16 years retail experience of retailing in Andover and is a specialist in Direct Marketing and integrated marketing communications.

Steve Godwin, BID manager, welcomed Lesley-Ann’s arrival. He said: “We approached Lesley-Ann to join our team as we have identified an important role for a marketing expert to support the BID and Lesley-Ann not only has a great deal of retail marketing experience but also has a great knowledge of Andover and the town centre.

“She is aware as I am of the challenging struggles that businesses currently face today, as she and her husband Mark own a business in the town.

“The BID established in April last year has an ambitious business strategy to deliver over the next five years and has made an impact with many success stories already achieved.

“With much more to deliver, it became apparent to me that I needed the support of a professional to help.

“Andover is a great town and our local authority Test Valley Borough Council have made a big commitment to its future. BID knows the importance of taking a pro-active approach in listening to businesses and delivering the initiatives that they have told us are important.

“We already have a new radio scheme in place, Free town WiFi will be switched on later this month and our business Waste Charter is gaining momentum as is our support for the many independent businesses.

“We have a lot planned and we also support other work underway and planned for the town. One of the purpose of a BID is to be a strong and unified voice for businesses and to work closely with other stakeholders and in Andover that includes Test Valley Borough Council, Andover Town Council and the police, ensuring the town competes with its neighbours and reducing duplication.

“Over the past few years Andover, like many town centres, has seen a decline in footfall and consumer spend mainly due to out of town retail parks and the growth in internet sales.

“I look forward to Lesley-Ann bringing us important marketing experience and in helping me to implement the BID business strategy”.

Lesley-Ann says she is hoping to raise awareness of what’s going on in the town as there is “a great deal to shout about” in Andover.

She said: “Having a retail shop in Andover, like most businesses I have seen drop in footfall and sales turnover and realise we need to regenerate the High Street and increase consumer spend in the High Street.

“I’m going to focus marketing on raising the awareness of what’s in Andover and generate marketing activities that will drive increased footfall into the Town Centre.

“We have a great deal to shout about,” she added, “an attractive town centre, easy access and we are attracting interest from new businesses enquiring about doing business here.

“I’m going to be helping The Andover Indies (independent retailers) and other businesses so that we have an integrated marketing approach for us all and I’m enthusiastic about working with Steve Godwin on implementing several important marketing initiatives that we will be presented to businesses in the next few weeks.”