Shoppers told go local to help high street
Gift guides and free parking to help festive sales
AS shops reopen after lockdown, a fresh drive has started to support local companies in the run up to Christmas.
Cheltenham’s marketing campaign, led by the town’s marketing body, Marketing Cheltenham, alongside Cheltenham Business Improvement District) and Cheltenham Borough Council, is calling on residents and would-be visitors for their help.
The campaign aims to overcome the latest national lockdown by creating an online directory of shops and local businesses and a series of gift guides that highlight local retailers, festive experiences and the many local cafes and restaurants offering takeaways and delivery services.
These guides can be found on the Visit Cheltenham website and social media channels, making it easy for the public to find something special for loved ones this Christmas.
There is also a new Facebook group, ‘Love Cheltenham – Supporting Local Businesses’ which has been created so people can find and order from businesses which otherwise might have struggled to compete with well-known online retailers.
Belinda Hunt, operations manager of Cheltenham BID, told the BID website: “Local businesses, both independent and people’s favourite national brands, have been innovative in the way they have changed their model to ensure their loyal customers can start their Christmas shopping.
“This campaign will support businesses by reminding local people that they are still there and offering a personal service which shoppers aren’t likely to experience with global online markets.”
For more information on the scheme visit visitcheltenham.com/whats-on/ christmas
Meanwhile, Tewkesbury Borough Council will be offering three days of free parking to encourage people to shop safely and locally in the run-up to Christmas.
On the first three Saturdays in December, the council will offer free parking in its car parks in Tewkesbury town and Winchcombe.
It is hoped that more people will be enticed into local town centres in the weeks before Christmas to avoid unnecessary travel, help local businesses recover from the effects of the second lockdown and discover a unique festive shopping experience.
In previous years, the borough council has offered two days of free parking in the run-up to Christmas, but this year, recognising the unprecedented difficulties currently faced by local businesses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the council has added a third free day.
The dates are the same for both Tewkesbury and Winchcombe - December 5, 12 and 19.
Councillor Robert Vines, lead member for finance and asset management, said: “We want to encourage residents to support their local shops by doing this year’s Christmas shopping near to home.
“We hope people will choose to take advantage of the free parking and great range of retailers to buy gifts and festive fare.
“Our environmental health officers have been working closely with local businesses to help introduce Covidsecure measures to ensure the risks are minimised as much as possible.”