Christmas - Barrow BID · Christmas music in the ginnel alongside the Forum and tree lights ......
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Newsletter Winter 2019 2019 has been a very busy year at Barrow BID. We have hosted a Soapbox Race, a Festival of Transport event and a Comedy Weekend. We have designed and printed 11,000 Visit Barrow leaflets. We have promoted the town across local and regional media. We have installed end of street signs for Cavendish Street & Scott Street. We have funded special projects and business premises throughout the town. We have created strong partnerships with the local councils, private companies and our MP to lobby for investment into Barrow town centre and we have been recognised for our efforts by the Government who shortlisted us for a Great British High Street Rising Star award. The big negative of the year was the announcement by M&S that they would be closing their Barrow town centre store and moving it to Ulverston. This has also meant that we have lost Simon Craig as Chairman of the Barrow BID board when he tendered his resignation at our October AGM. Simon will be missed. The board has expanded this year with; Kay Bower, Sam Hughes, Allan Kerr & Paul Hodgson joining and Nathan Morrow stepping down. Following his role as Festival of Transport chairman, Paul Hodgson will be taking over from Simon Craig as Chairman for the coming year. We are also looking to bring further individuals onto the board for the start of the new year as we continue to attract a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Barrow BID board. If you would like any information about BID events, initiatives or the BID board visit our website at barrowbid.co.uk or contact Colin Garnett, BID Manager: [email protected] New Christmas Lights Following a review of the Christmas lights in 2018, we decided that the festive lights required improvement. We put the project out to tender in March and two companies were commissioned to supply the new Christmas lights. These new lights will make up phase 1 of our festive light improvement scheme and will see new; cross- street lights in Dalton Rd & Portland Walk, 2D shapes and Christmas music in the ginnel alongside the Forum and tree lights wrapping the town centre trees in Dalton Rd & Portland Walk. Santa Dash & Christmas Light Switch-on November 23 rd will be the start of the festivities in Barrow town centre, with entertainment and live music from lunchtime that day. At 2.30pm 100s of runners will pack the town with families supporting them, as they take on the 4km Santa Dash course in the heart of the town centre. The event is in aid of St Mary’s Hospice and has been organised by Furness Rotary with support from Barrow BID & Orsted. If you would like to support the Santa Dash you can enter online at: barrowsantadash.org.uk The Christmas Light Switch-on event will once again be organised by Ultimate Events and will take place on the Town Square following the Santa Dash from 3.30pm – 6.30pm. There will be live music and entertainment as well as funfair rides to keep all the family entertained. The ethos behind the 'Shop Barrow Day' is about showcasing the wealth of National, and Independent shops, market traders, food & drink and specialist services in the town... but you have to do your part. We all have to make people feel welcome to the town and create a friendly, festive feeling which will make people warm inside. As Geoff Ramm said... "Treat customers like they are celebrities.“ Some ideas to engage with customers could be... The festive period is the most important time of the year for retail, with people seeking; the perfect gift, special food & drink and clothes to combat the British weather or make them stand out at the office party. At Barrow BID we understand the importance of Christmas and this year we are looking to improve the experience for visitors to the town via a host of events and initiatives, including; New Christmas Lights, Shop Barrow Day with FREE parking, Late Night Opening, A Santa Dash, Family Events & Workshops, Live Music and Festive Cheer. Shop Barrow Day Saturday 30 th November Barrow BID has teamed up with Barrow Borough Council to promote Shop Barrow Day on Saturday 30 th November. There will be FREE car parking on the day and live music & entertainment throughout the town to create a festive atmosphere. Christmas IN BARROW TOWN CENTRE 1. Buy today and get a voucher to spend in January 2. Buy now and enter a draw for a Christmas gift/hamper 3. Free treats for children 4. Free treats for adults, (mulled wine & mince pies) 5. Offer a service over and beyond the usual 6. Wish customers all the best for the festive period You know your business inside out, so be inventive and come up with something that suits you. Promote your idea on social media and send your promotions to us to promote too. manager:@barrowbid.co.uk
Transcript of Christmas - Barrow BID · Christmas music in the ginnel alongside the Forum and tree lights ......
NewsletterWinter 2019
2019 has been a very busy year at Barrow BID. We have hosted a Soapbox Race, a Festival of Transport event and a Comedy Weekend. We have designed and printed 11,000 Visit Barrow leaflets. We have promoted the town across local and regional media. We have installed end of street signs for Cavendish Street & Scott Street. We have funded special projects and business premises throughout the town. We have created strong partnerships with the local councils, private companies and our MP to lobby for investment into Barrow town centre and we have been recognised for our efforts by the Government who shortlisted us for a Great British High Street Rising Star award.
The big negative of the year was the announcement by M&S that they would be closing their Barrow town centre store and moving it to Ulverston. This has also meant that we have lost Simon Craig as Chairman of the Barrow BID board when he tendered his resignation at our October AGM. Simon will be missed.
The board has expanded this year with; Kay Bower, Sam Hughes, Allan Kerr & Paul Hodgson joining and Nathan Morrow stepping down. Following his role as Festival of Transport chairman, Paul Hodgson will be taking over from Simon Craig as Chairman for the coming year. We are also looking to bring further individuals onto the board for the start of the new year as we continue to attract a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Barrow BID board.
If you would like any information about BID events, initiatives or the BID board visit our website at b a rrowbid.co.uk or contact Colin Garnett, BID Manager: m [email protected]
New Christmas LightsFollowing a review of the Christmas lights in 2018, we decided that the festive lights required improvement. We put the project out to tender in March and two companies were commissioned to supply the new Christmas lights. These new lights will make up phase 1 of our festive light improvement scheme and will see new; cross-street lights in Dalton Rd & Portland Walk, 2D shapes and Christmas music in the ginnel alongside the Forum and tree lights wrapping the town centre trees in Dalton Rd & Portland Walk.
Santa Dash & Christmas Light Switch-onNovember 23rd will be the start of the festivities in Barrow town centre, with entertainment and live music from lunchtime that day. At 2.30pm 100s of runners will pack the town with families supporting them, as they take on the 4km Santa Dash course in the heart of the town centre. The event is in aid of St Mary’s Hospice and has been organised by Furness Rotary with support from Barrow BID & Orsted.
If you would like to support the Santa Dash you can enter online at: b a rrowsantadash.org.uk
The Christmas Light Switch-on event will once again be organised by Ultimate Events and will take place on the Town Square following the Santa Dash from 3.30pm – 6.30pm. There will be live music and entertainment as well as funfair rides to keep all the family entertained.
The ethos behind the 'Shop Barrow Day' is about showcasing the wealth of National, and Independent shops, market traders, food & drink and specialist services in the town... but you have to do your part. We all have to make people feel welcome to the town and create a friendly, festive feeling which will make people warm inside. As Geoff Ramm said... "Treat customers like they are celebrities.“ Some ideas to engage with customers could be...
The festive period is the most important time of the year for retail, with people seeking; the perfect gift, special food & drink and clothes to combat the British weather or make them stand out at the office party.
At Barrow BID we understand the importance of Christmas and this year we are looking to improve the experience for visitors to the town via a host of events and initiatives, including; New Christmas Lights, Shop Barrow Day with FREE parking, Late Night Opening, A Santa Dash, Family Events & Workshops, Live Music and Festive Cheer.
Shop Barrow DaySaturday 30 th NovemberBarrow BID has teamed up with Barrow Borough Council to promote Shop Barrow Day on Saturday 30th
November. There will be FREE car parking on the day and live music & entertainment throughout the town to create a festive atmosphere.
ChristmasIN BARROW TOWN CENTRE
1. Buy today and get a voucher to spend in January2. Buy now and enter a draw for a Christmas gift/hamper3. Free treats for children4. Free treats for adults, (mulled wine & mince pies)5. Offer a service over and beyond the usual6. Wish customers all the best for the festive period
You know your business inside out, so be inventive and come up with something that suits you. Promote your idea on social media and send your promotions to us to promote too.manager:@barrowbid.co.uk
EMPTY SHOPS& Shop Fronts
Late Night ShoppingBarrow BID were asked by a local trader to explore the need for late night shopping in Barrow town centre.
We conducted a small sample survey with local businesses on Dalton Rd and 85% of them said that late night opening should be part of the festive period. The consensus from them was that Fridays would be the best day to have late night opening.
This was reinforced by a Facebook survey which had 450 out of 513 respondents stating that late night shopping would be good. The Facebook survey also backed up Friday as the best day.
Therefore, on the 6th, 13th & 20th December, Barrow BID will promote Barrow town centre as late night shopping days with businesses open until 6.30pm. This is supported by Barrow Borough Council who will make all town centre car parks FREE after 5pm on these dates. (Whittaker Street & Multi-Storey will continue to offer FREE after 3pm).
It isn’t compulsory for your business to open till 6.30pm, but we would encourage businesses to get involved, as more open businesses will create a better atmosphere for people to shop or enjoy food & drink in the town. If you are planning on staying open till 6.30pm, let us know by emailing [email protected] we will advertise the fact that you will be open for business.
Dates for Your Diary?Thursday 21st November – Town Centre Clean EventSaturday 30th November – Shop Barrow DaySaturday 4th April – A ‘Roarsome’ Event for the Easter holidaysSunday 24th May – Super Soapbox ChallengeSaturday 11th July – Festival of TransportThu 1st – Sun 4th October – Barrow Music Week
f acebook.com/vis i t -barrow | v i s i tbarrow.org.uk
Christmas Choir CompetitionSouth Lakes Rock School in partnership with Barrow BID are again running a competition to find the best primary school choir in Barrow.
The competition will take place in three town centre locations on the 29th Nov and 6th Dec with a finals day at the Forum on Sunday 15th Dec. Schools will perform a 15-20 minute set of Christmas Carols and a panel of judges will attend the performances to find the best school choirs, who will go through to the grand final.
Our Christmas Programme of Events23rd Nov – Santa Dash & Christmas Light Switch-on29th Nov, 6th & 15th Dec – Christmas Choir Competition30th Nov – Shop Barrow Day with FREE car parking6th, 13th & 20th Dec – Late Night Shopping 6th – 8th Dec – Christmas Funfair on the town square6th & 7th Dec – Umbrella Decorating Workshops 14th Dec – Santa Express & Grotto on Dalton Rd21st – 24th Dec – Live Music & Entertainment
Festive Window Competition The new festive lights purchased by Barrow BID will go some way to enhancing the town centre and improving the experience for visitors of the town. To further enhance the town centre, we would like to encourage town centre businesses to dress their windows with a Christmas theme.
We will judging the window displayson Saturday 14th December and willbe selecting winners in the followingcategories:
1. Best National business2. Best independent business3. Best dressed market stall4. Best service sector business
Business Premises Grant SchemeDuring 2019 Barrow BID has invested nearly £8,000 into town centre premises as part of their Business Premises Improvement Scheme. The scheme has funded existing and new start businesses in the town centre and has paid for; external painting, new windows and doors, new signage, window vinyl, artwork, flags and even a teddy bear’s treehouse.
The fund is open to National businesses as well as independent premises, so if you pay the BID Levy and have premises with a street facing frontage, then you more than likely qualify for a grant.
£25,000 has been set aside to improve business premises in the town centre, so if your business could do with a facelift, download the application forms at: barrowbid.co.uk/business-premises-grant-scheme
What else are Barrow BID working on?
- End of street signs for Crellin Street- Empty shop window vinyls- Assisting on Future High Street & Heritage schemes with BBC- Working in partnership on Urban Green Spaces- Pedestrian way-finder signs from the Railway Station- Town centre transport and car parking initiatives- Attracting match funding to provide ROI on the BID Levy- Cleaning schemes including Portland Walk canopies
Special Occasions on Crellin St | Before & After
BARROW TOWN CENTRE
late night shoppingFriday 6th, 13th, 20th December till 6.30pm
Join our Mailing List?To be kept up to date with Barrow BID NewsJoin our mailing list by emailing: [email protected] us on Facebook at: facebook.com/barrowbidcompany
