Lets Talk Christmas! How your business can get involved….

Can you believe we are only weeks away from Christmas and there is so much going on in Christchurch we hope it will be a festive season to remember!  Below are details of what is on the agenda which we hope you find useful for your own business planning.

There are also details of our BID activities which we hope that your businesses will sign up to and be part of the Christchurch Christmas magic!

CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH ON

We are sure many of you already know that light switch on day is on the Saturday 25th November (from 11am) and is being organised by Christchurch Town Council this year and what a day of entertainment and fun for everyone they have planned!

The day will include carol singing, live music and DJ’s, festive food and drink stalls, an urban bike display and children’s entertainers.  The light switch on will be at 5.30pm followed by live music to end the celebrations.  Our thanks goes to Christchurch Town Council for organising this year’s switch on event.

CALLING ALL BID BUSINESSES! – GET INVOLVED THIS CHRISTMAS!

This year we are organising three activities for your business to be involved in across the festive period, alongside a comprehensive social media campaign, so dig out your Christmas decorations, don your tinsel and be a part of the joy making this Christmas!

We have three offers this year that are designed to encourage visitors to the town and engage with you our wonderful BID businesses – please email [email protected] to sign up!  Spaces are limited so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

CHRISTMAS WREATH COMPETITION 

After a hugely successful first year, the Christchurch Christmas Wreath Competition is back and better than ever!

The Christchurch BID and Christchurch Chamber of Trade & Commerce invite you to create a Christmas wreath that reflects your business. 

Wreaths can be hung on doors or in windows and the general public their favourite wreath by voting online via the Christchurch BID (@ChristchurchBID) and Christchurch Chamber of Trade & Commerce (@Christchurchchamberoftradeandcommerce) Facebook pages. 

There will be bronze, silver, gold and showstopper categories alongside the peoples champion.

How to enter your business in the competition:

• Design and create your Christmas wreath
• Hang it on your door or in your window
• Email [email protected] to let us know you have a wreath in place
• We will then take a pic and upload an image of your wreath to the Christchurch BID and Christchurch Chamber of Trade and Commerce Facebook Pages
• The general public will vote on all entries via likes on our social media pages
• Our team of judges will walk the town (after the closing date of the 10th December) to pick the winners!

The competition begins on the 20th November 2023 and public voting closes on the 10th December at 5pm.

There will be prizes available for our winning businesses!

Questions about the Christmas Wreath Competition?  Please contact Louise via [email protected] for more information.

THE CHRISTCHURCH BID BAUBLE HUNT!

Would you like to hang one of our BID Christmas Baubles in your business?

This year, we have specially designed Christchurch BID baubles for businesses to hang on their Christmas Trees or in windows for visitors and customers to find.

People who find your bauble have been asked to take a picture of themselves with the bauble and post it online tagging your business and Christchurch BID into their post.  

Using the hashtag #bigbaublehunt, we will enter each person who has posted a selfie into a prize draw each week leading up to Christmas!

If you are interested in encouraging people to visit you over Christmas or gain exposure on social media by being involved then please get in touch and we can deliver a bauble to you for hanging.

There are only 20 baubles available and these will be distributed on a first come first serve basis so please email Louise via [email protected] to get your hands on a bauble for your business!

Once signed up, more details will be shared as to how you can help draw people into your business via social media to find the bauble.

The BID bauble hunt will run from Saturday 25th November to Friday 15th December 2023.

ELF ON THE SHELF

We have some very naughty elves ready and waiting to cause mischief in your business this Christmas!

We are looking for businesses that will welcome children coming in to see if they can spot any elves on your shelves.  

We have 15 elves with golden Christchurch BID flags that are ready and waiting to be placed in your business for children to find.

Once spotted, children (or their parents) will ask you for a golden ticket (supplied by us) where they will fill out their details and be asked to post their ticket into Santa’s Postbox at the Regent Centre.

• You could hang an Elf in a window of your business
• You could pop it near the till for all to see
• You could go traditional and pop it on a shelf!

The choice is entirely yours – go all out mischievous if you like! 

You are also encouraged to move your elf around your business if you wish but this is not necessary.  All entrants who have posted their golden ticket will be entered into a prize draw.

If you want to be part of the mischief then please email Louise via [email protected] to get your hands on an elf for Christmas!

Elves will be in place by the 25th November until the 15th December.

Once signed up, more detail will be shared as to how you can encourage people to find your elf!

If you are interested in being part of the Christmas magic in Christchurch this year then please email Louise via [email protected] to find out more.