Retailers in Bath are hoping for an all-important sales boost in the crucial dozen days left to Christmas from tomorrow – by offering shoppers a host of special offers and the chance to win £1,000 worth of prizes.
More than 40 shops have stayed open late night over the past three Thursdays and this week, under an initiative driven by Bath’s Business Improvement District (BID), the membership organisation tasked with boosting city centre trade, they will offer 12 shoppers the chance to win 12 luxury prizes in a one-off raffle.
The idea is to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas shopping left from tomorrow to Christmas Eve.
To qualify for the free-to-enter competition, shoppers must register during the late night event at one of three stores – Phase Eight, Waitrose or Jolly’s.
Sarah Mansfield, director of Milsom Place, which is sponsoring the evening, is sure it will help pull in the crowds. “The last weeks leading up to Christmas are critically important for a retailer’s annual performance,” she said.
“Late night shopping is a win-win – retailers can extend their hours and provide a more personal service, those juggling the demands of work can stay late and tick off those very important present lists before the pressure mounts and locals can pop back in and have their favourite shops to themselves in a relaxed and festive environment.”
She praised the idea of the luxury raffle and believes individual service and the chance to find unique and inspirational gifts at distinctive independent stores as well as favourite high street brands will tempt shoppers this Thursday.
Bath BID manager Andrew Cooper said: “The Bath Business Improvement District worked in partnership with retailers and other organisations in the city to ensure a coherent and cohesive approach to marketing. This has resulted in a regional campaign to drive footfall at this critical retailing period. We have promoted Bath through national and regional media channels and organised a successful Christmas lights switch on event live on The One Show.”
Special deals for shoppers will be available in some stores between 6-8pm on Thursday, including Molton Brown on Union Street, which is slashing prices by 20%. Anyone buying a handbag at Liz Cox’s store at St Margaret’s buildings gets a complementary cosmetics bag thrown in, while hot chocolate and mince pies will keep out the cold in White Stuff on New Bond Street.
Raffle prizes up for grabs include a £150 ‘Joys of Christmas’ hamper from Waitrose, a hand-woven lambswool and cashmere scarf from Katherine Fraser, and a Rushan bowl from designer Robert Welch.
