Congleton is one of 56 towns across the UK running an Indie Easter Egg Hunt!
On Saturday 23rd March, Congleton will be one of 56 UK towns launching an “Enjoy an Independent Easter” campaign to encourage more shoppers, especially families, to come to town and participate in “Indie Easter Egg Hunts”.
The event is being sponsored by the Support for Independent Retail campaign, with the aim of rewarding local people for taking the time to visit a number of their local, independent traders.
Town Centre Manager Jackie MacArthur signed Congleton up to this national campaign on behalf of the Congleton Business Association. Congleton Town Council sponsored the production of the maps, but the posters, stickers and templates for the maps were sent from the Independent Retail Campaign.
Jackie MacArthur said: “Families can pick up an “Easter egg hunt map” from the Tourist Information Centre in the Town Hall or from one of the 20 participating shops. They need to collect a dozen “eggs” (cute little Easter egg stickers) and place on their maps to complete the hunt. Once the a dozen eggs are collected they can return to the TIC and swap the map for a real chocolate egg and a certificate of completion”.
The event starts on the 23 March and runs through until Sunday 14th April, giving the whole of the school Easter holiday period to complete the hunt.
Clare Rayner, from the Independent Retail Campaign said: “It’s no secret that UK retailers, and particularly the smaller, independent businesses, need all the help they can get. Research produced by our official supporter, bira (British Independent Retailers Association), and one of our sponsors (O2 Priority Moments) showed that some 16% of all independent retailers fear they will not survive 2013 if things don’t improve. With LDC (Local Data Company) stats showing that Independent Retailer numbers declined in the 2nd half of 2012, for the first time in 2 years, the loss of more shops from our high streets and villages is a very real risk. If something isn’t done to help re-connect local consumers with local businesses, it is forecast that the UK high street vacancy rate could climb from c. 14% to an alarmingly high 17%. It’s simple, effective activities, such as the Easter egg hunt, that can really help to start the process of changing consumer habits, reminding people that they stand to lose all the fantastic shops in their area if they never visit them and never spend with them.”
It is hoped that shoppers who take part in the Easter egg hunt will have a lot of fun and that the retailers involved will have the opportunity to meet with, and chat to, potential customers who have perhaps in the past overlooked them. The shops taking part in the Congleton Indie Egg Hunt are:
Victoria Mill – Foundry Bank
Mattroe – Park Lane
Compusat, Lawton Street
Retro ‘The Shop’ Lawton Street
The Oatcake Shop, Lawton Street
Congleton Museum, Market Street
Delacey’s Tapas Bar and Café, High Street
Newtons, Capitol Walk
Bear Grills, Market Street
The Stationery Cupboard, High Street
Browns Jewellers, Pedestrian area
Fonehouse, Pedestrian area
Bread and Basil – Pedestrian area
Wisteria leather goods – Luggage to Go – pedestrian area
Cost Cutter – pedestrian area
Chaz and Millies, Swan Bank
R&J Moores Greengrocers, Mill Street
TS Electrical – Mill Street
The Address – Antrobus Street
Top Nosh – West Street
Jackie MacArthur from Congleton Town Council said: “This is the first time that
Congleton has joined in with the Independent Retail Campaign. If the hunt
encourages more people to discover the wealth of independent shops in Congleton
then it has to be good. I hope following on from this event even more shops will
want to join in summer and Christmas Independent campaigns.
For further information see www.congleton-tc.gov.uk
