With the festive season under way, shoppers in South Gloucestershire are being encouraged to support local traders for their Christmas shopping this year.
The council’s Christmas campaign in support of the hundreds of independent traders that make up local high streets has launched today.
Throughout December the council will be showcasing different traders from Kingswood, Hanham, Downend, Staple Hill, Chipping Sodbury, Filton, Thornbury and Station Road in Yate, as well as promoting local Christmas events and activities taking place.
The council is also holding a Christmas window competition for traders where shoppers will be able to vote for their favourite display and be entered into a Christmas prize draw where they could win £100 in shopping vouchers to spend on their local high street (terms and conditions will apply). There will also be a prize for the most popular window display.
2020 data from the Bank of England shows that on average households spend an additional £740 in December. If just 20 per cent of this was spent in local high streets in South Gloucestershire, this would be an additional £16.3m for the local economy.
Cabinet Member for Communities & Local Place Cllr Rachael Hunt said: “Our local businesses helped to keep our communities going through the pandemic and now it’s our turn to show them some love by shopping South Glos this Christmas.
“Our local high streets have everything you will need to make this Christmas special. South Gloucestershire is lucky to have a plethora of gift shops, family-run butchers for that all important turkey, hair salons and barbers for those looking forward to that long-awaited Christmas party and lots of independent cafés, restaurants and pubs where we can meet with friends and family to celebrate.
“The high street is changing and that’s why we are committed to running campaigns like this one to help champion the important role they play and to encourage people to shop South Glos.”
Pictured are Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources Cllr Ben Burton & Cabinet Member for Communities and Local Place Cllr Rachael Hunt at the Christmas lights switch-on for Downend High Street. The lights on display have been funded by Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Council with a contribution from South Gloucestershire Council.
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