Close down of Lewes Artisans John Hinitt | Simon Dale | Robin Houghton email: sd@lewesartisans.com tel: 01273 486389 / 01273 470010

Dear Artisan We have made a difficult decision – to close Lewes Artisans. We want you to be the first to hear this, and we’d also like to explain the reasons for it. Sometime during the Summer of 2000 John had this brilliant idea to create a website for his small band of 'Artisan friends' as he called them. As a fairly new web designer, for Simon it seemed like an ideal way of learning more about his craft in a practical way. Those initial seven people really took a leap of faith, but they came on board and Lewes Artisans was born. John often struggled to recruit new people over the coming year or two, and he and Simon both gave as much time as they could to promoting the site. People did not necessarily want to sign up to something that was fairly 'new', in Lewes at least, and for a while we only had a handful of members. When marketer Robin joined us the promotion of Lewes Artisans stepped up a notch or two and recently it has been a success at every level. Once we reached the critical mass of over 100 members, there seemed to be no stopping us. However, for the last year or so we have struggled to maintain the impetus and vitality needed to move the organisation forward. What started as a spare time project has become something much bigger. We’re conscious of the fact that the website needs improvements, adverts need organising and promotions need planning. The time and effort required to deal with renewals, chase up web page material and field enquiries from the public has also increased. If we didn't need to earn a living we could devote more time to Lewes Artisans. As it is, this has never been a profit making venture, and both work and personal commitments must come first. On top of all this, whereas in 2000 we were unique, now the town seems to be inundated with various directories, and we simply do not have the inclination to compete. We’re proud of the fact that we were the first - funny to think that, when we started, the idea of an internet directory of local trades people was seen as something a bit eccentric, as people wondered whether the internet would really take off. We would like to thank all of you for joining and supporting us during the last 6 years. Especially we would like to thank those who have helped us at events, volunteered for things, spread the word, offered their premises as venues for socials, and of course Andrew for looking after our finances. You have been great, and have made the Artisans unique and special. We’ve built up a fantastic name which is widely recognised throughout the area. It’s a shame to let it go, but better to get out whilst we are on top than to watch Lewes Artisans fade away into a shadow of its former self. Lewes Artisans will cease to exist as of January 31st 2007. The website will remain in place until then, to be replaced by a site which will tell the story of Lewes Artisans. We’d like to include member reminiscences or testimonials, so let us know if you have anything you’d like to say! As regards your membership subs, refunds will be issued In February (to those Artisans who are in credit) on a pro-rata monthly basis so that no one is out of pocket. On a final note, we would like to emphasise that we did not authorise the reproduction of Artisans' details in the recent Lewes Handbook. This was done without our consultation. In addition, we do not plan to 'hand over' the Lewes Artisans name to any person or organisation. Anyone purporting to be Lewes Artisans after Jan 31st 2007 will have no connection with us: accept no imitations! all the best John, Simon & Robin www.lewesartisans.com email: sd@lewesartisans.com