Issued By North Yorkshire County Council

BUSINESS SUPPORT THROUGH SEMINARS

CALLING all e-tailers! That's businesses which trade via the Internet or e-mail to most of us.

Trading standards officers in North Yorkshire are inviting you to one of two seminars which could help your business surf smoothly rather than sink slowly.

The seminars which will offer business improvement advice and information on the rules and regulations which relate to distance selling, will also benefit traders who sell by phone, fax, or mail order. 

Organised by North Yorkshire County Council trading standards service, the seminars will advise on the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000. A specialist lecturer in Internet computing from the University of Hull will also appear at the seminars to talk about good and bad websites and how businesses can best reach their target audience and maximise sales.

The seminar will be held in Harrogate on 20 November and in Scarborough on 27 November, and cost a nominal £25 per delegate.

County Councillor John Dennis, executive member with responsibility for trading standards said: “There are 19 million Internet users in the UK, and of those 9 million have made an online purchase. The geography of North Yorkshire encourages small businesses to sell their goods by mail order on the Internet.

“Recent changes in the law mean that traders have new responsibilities.  We want to make sure that businesses are up to date in what they need to do to protect themselves and their customers and are making the most of the marketing and sales opportunities that selling at a distance offers.”

For further details or to book call Jo Boutflower at trading standards on 01609 532322 or e-mail jo.boutflower@northyorks.gov.uk.

Executive member: Cllr John Dennis (Con) 01609 883349

Group spokespeople: Cllr Steve Shaw-Wright (Lab) 01757 708849; Cllr Mrs Caroline Seymour (Lib-Dem) 01642 710382.