Stage #1 - An introduction

Hello and welcome.

I’m Samuel Douglas, the creator of Mill Road Compendium. Some of you may know my name from Be Social Cambridge, which was an online business directory that launched in March 2020 during the start of the pandemic, supporting local businesses to promote their awareness throughout the lockdowns, as well as hosting market fairs and online competitions.

Fast forward to 2025, I’m now focusing on a new project. A project based on a road I’ve known for over 20 years, I walk down it nearly every day, buy many things from the diverse range of shops and live close by too. I’m also involved in other local events associated with Mill Road and keen to help the community thrive even further with a beautifully curated magazine.

With every new idea comes a plan. With that plan, there are stages. This is Stage #1: publishing the landing page, sharing the concept and building an audience. The audience in this case is business owners.

The aim for Stage #1 is to acquire every single shop, trader, restaurant, takeaway, business, charity, event and community group on the website to feature in an online directory (for free), promoted through a monthly newsletter to subscribers and social media. Once I have achieved this and there’s a growth in subscribers wanting to know ‘what’s on’ on Mill Road, the next stage will start.

The compendium (magazine) won’t launch until November 2026. I work full-time, so this is a project I’m doing in my spare time and won’t be taking any pay for it. The hope is that the project will turn into a business that will run itself, with members of the local community contributing their skills to create the Mill Road Compendium. Each business will have free copies to give away with a wider reach throughout the city, as well as a limited edition hardback version, which will be available to purchase online.

So keep an eye out for me coming into your business and introducing myself. I look forward to meeting and getting to know you all.