Promoting Local Businesses and Events

  • 5Find Trusted Trades & Services
  • 5Get Seen by Local Customers
  • 5Never Miss Local Events
  • 5Connect & Grow

Since 2012, Contactus has been promoting local products, services, and events to the Ealing and West London audience, using three main methods: online, in print and in person

Connecting Ealing’s Business & Local Community
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Discover our latest local projects, digital publication archives, networking channels, and promotional services for West London businesses.

Explore our full ecosystem of local media initiatives—including digital community magazines, live business showcases, and active social media networking channels.

Supporting Independent Businesses Across Ealing & West London

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Discover trusted local trades, community events, and business networking across Ealing, Acton, Chiswick, and Hanwell
Built for Ealing’s independent businesses

Promoting Ealing Businesses and Events – Online, in Print and in Person

Carlene Bender BA Hons
(Media&Comm); MA (Soc/Anthr)
– Director, Contactus Ltd

Walking around the Ealing town centre taking photos of broken buildings and businesses just after the Ealing Riots in August 2011 started me thinking: how would these shop-owners recover? Was there anything I could do to help Ealing get back on its feet?

Besides spending more money locally myself, what I thought I could do was try to encourage others to shop more in Ealing too. Twenty-plus years of experience in newspaper and magazine newsrooms came in handy as I worked out how to start up a small publication highlighting Ealing businesses. It would be a channel for businesses, events, clubs and schools to advertise in, to spread their message beyond the usual limits of online media. Each issue would focus on a different shopping parade, and be distributed to all the neighbourhood. This new idea was happily received by Ealing residents, who are always keen to ‘shop local’.

In December 2012 the first issue of ‘Contactus Ealing’ magazine was published, with a spotlight on the businesses in Pitshanger W5, because that’s where I live. A few months later brought the launch of ‘Ealing Homebiz’, like ‘Contactus Ealing’, published twice a year, but this time geared to businesses run from home: sole traders who don’t have a counter or a shop window, but who still need to find ways of reaching customers.

What has touched me most about producing Contactus magazines is the high number of mum-based businesses in Ealing, run by parents frustrated by the constrictions of childcare, who (like me) are missing being productive at a financial level. I hoped that by putting out these magazines designed to give their businesses exposure, it would help them to realise their dreams, and open up a successful life based on being self-employed.

To extend the reach of the magazines, I decided after a year to merge the two titles, so ‘Ealing Homebiz’ became incorporated into ‘Contactus Ealing’, and there have been special editions outside the W5/W7/W13 borders, in Chiswick W4 and Acton W3. In 2016, a weekly online mini-Contactus, ‘The_Ealinger’, was launched, while ‘Contactus Ealing’ became a Christmas annual magazine.

By mid-2017, Contactus magazines finally gave way to the anti-advertising movement, and production ceased as the business model was reworked, and my emphasis shifted to include promoting local networking via the Ealing Business Diary, and especially the Ealing Business Expo annual event.

Ealing Business Expo has gone from strength to strength, and has now expanded to a two-day event, happening next across Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 March in 2022. Find out more over on the Expo website: ealingbizexpo.co.uk

Contactus magazines back issues highlighting different areas of the borough of Ealing, from Hanwell to Acton, are still online and free to read, at: issuu.com/contactusealing

More information about my background and experience on LinkedIn:

@carlene-de-bourg-bender

Proud member of the FSB – Federation of Small and Self-employed Businesses in the UK
Join Our Local Networks

Connect with Local Businesses Via Live Chats and Community Groups

Come networking with me: online via social media including the #EalingHour tweetchat every first Tuesday of the month 8-9pm on Twitter

Also check out the three Contactus-based Facebook groups, featuring threads with local shop-owners and home-based businesses:

Explore our flexible advertising options, directory listings, and sponsored post packages.

Discover Contactus Ealing

For over a decade, Contactus Ealing has been the heartbeat of West London’s local business scene. We bridge the gap between independent shopkeepers, skilled trades, and local residents across Ealing, Acton, Chiswick, and Hanwell.

Whether you are looking to discover trusted local services, catch up on community news, or scale your small business through targeted local marketing, our media channels and networking hubs are built to give our community a stronger voice.

Hyperlocal Publishing & Media

Digital features and community magazine archives highlighting Ealing’s independent businesses, local news, and community stories.

B2B Networking & Events

Connect with local business owners through regional networking sessions, virtual meetups like #EalingHour, and community trade hubs.

Targeted Business Promotion

Affordable marketing packages—from social media event coverage to directory listings—designed to get your brand noticed across West London.

Real connections, local growth

Building Genuine Local Business Relationships

Bringing local business owners together—from informal coffee chats to structured workshops.
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Building strong business relationships isn’t just about networking—it’s about creating a supportive, visible community right here in Ealing.

Get your business listed in West London’s hub.

Simple, affordable promotion built for sole traders and growing SMBs.
Join the Network
What Our Community Says

Trusted by local business owners and residents across West London

Peter Newton

The Business Conductor (advertiser)
“I always tell my businesses to use tracking on their ads; I used a unique email address in my ad with Carlene, and I’ve had two enquiries already via that email address. So I know the ad has worked.”

Inge Woudstra

Mum and Career
“Whenever one of these free magazines comes through my door, I think, oh no here’s another one of those magazines, with the same adverts, and the same interviews with the same actors. But when Contactus comes through the door – wow! This is something different.”

Christine Lees

Life Coach
“I found out about a service I didn’t even know existed from Carlene’s magazine, ‘Ealing Homebiz’. I’ve been planning a move to France, and needed to sort out my house and get it ready to put on the market. I was looking through Carlene’s magazine and saw the advert for House In Order. This was exactly what I needed just at the right time.”

Angela Weyers

My Stylist London (advertiser)
“I’m happy to say I took an ad in the last issue of ‘Contactus Ealing’, and I was amazed I had to do nothing – Carlene designed and laid out the artwork for me, and all I had to do was pay. So now I’m looking forward to lots and lots of calls. Thanks, Carlene.”

Emily Fawell

4Well People (advertiser)
“Carlene, you truly deserve all the positive feedback that you get. You are having such an impact on Ealing businesses! Well done you.”

Narmeen

Gemstone Tech
“Picked up the latest Ealing Homebiz magazine today and left it on the seat next to me on the tube. I saw three people read it during my journey.”

Alison Joshi

Graphic Designer (advertiser)
“I took an ad out in Carlene’s magazine and within days had a new client who’d seen Carlene’s article on me in ‘Ealing Homebiz’. Now she wants me to design her cards, website, brochure, leaflets… She said she called me because I looked like a nice person in my picture – credit to Carlene! This is proof that print advertising really does work.”

Carole Ann Rice

Life Coach and Daily Express columnist (advertiser)
“Someone who works in the lobby at Westminster said he saw my ad in your fab magazine x”
“other comments were ‘nicely put together’ and ‘a good little read'”
Getting Started Is Simple

How we help your local business get seen across West London

Tell Us About Your Business

Fill out our quick contact form or reach out directly to share what services you offer and who your ideal local customers are.

We Create Your Promo Strategy

Carlene works with you to pick the right mix—whether that’s a directory spot, a feature in the digital magazine, or a social media event boost.

Connect with Local Customers

Your business gets featured across our West London media channels, putting you in front of active local residents and business networks.
Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers about listings and getting involved

Ask More

What areas do you cover?

We focus on West London communities, primarily Ealing (W5), Acton (W3), Chiswick (W4), and Hanwell (W7).

How do I get my business listed or featured?

It’s a straightforward, personal process. Just send us a message through our contact form, and we’ll chat about the best way to showcase your business across our digital hub or magazine archives.

What is #EalingHour?

It’s our regular online networking session designed to help local sole traders, independent shop owners, and entrepreneurs connect, share ideas, and build valuable local relationships.

Can you help promote a local event or workshop?

Yes! Through our Events Booster service, we help amplify local workshops, community markets, and business launches across our social media channels to get you noticed locally.

Do I need a large marketing budget to get involved?

Not at all. All of our directory placements, digital features, and promotional packages are built to be affordable and practical for small independent businesses.

The Magazine Advertising Business Model

Throwback video for all the Contactus magazines fans.

Sign up to our mailing list so we can let you know whenever a new magazine comes out

Questions? Feedback? Requests?

Share Your Business Details and Let’s Connect

  • info@contactusealing.co.uk
  • Ealing, West London, UK

Please fill in the form below and we will get back to you within 48 hours!

Let’s Get West London Talking About Your Business

Whether you need a directory listing, an event boost, or a feature in our digital magazine, we’re here to give your brand the visibility it deserves.

Start Connecting Today