LETTER

Aylmer’s Business Directory 

I have just seen the Bulletin d’Aylmer’s new Business Directory for 2020 and I wish to congratulate you and your staff for another fine publication, in fact more than a “publication”. This is actually a community asset. It is designed to tell Aymerites and others all the services and shops we have available in our own community. They are the motor of our local economy, and it is good to encourage people to shop at home, first, before they go to the big box stores which suck retail profits out of localities for only corporate benefit.

I have three recommendations for next year. Number one: change the name to “Aylmer’s Shop-at-Home Guide”, or something like that. “Directory” lacks colour and attraction. Number two: why not list all business, phones and addresses, in a plain listing like regular phone books, but only those who pay get the snappy colour display ads. Listing everyone would be helpful for shoppers, and it might make the businesses see the value in up-grading their listing to an ad. Number three: you fill the spaces between ads with attractive photos around Aylmer, but these carry minimum information. Why not replace at least some with “factoids” about Aylmer – population, education levels, spending habits – all to show why Aylmer is a market worth pursuing by retail shops and services?

Maybe other readers also have suggestions. All in all, this year’s is an excellent job, congratulations – and thank you!

Andy Black, 

Aylmer nord