WCC LAUNCH CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGING LOCALS TO SHOP LOCAL!

A social media campaign will launch this week to encourage residents to support independent retailers, small and rural businesses by shopping local in the run up to Christmas — and we need your help to make it a success.

On Monday 29 November, Warwickshire County Council, through its Warwickshire Towns Network, will be bringing back last year’s successful A to Z of Christmas on its social media channels.

This will highlight businesses, events, products and services beginning with the corresponding letter to curate the perfect Christmas gift list from independent retailers across the county. New posts will appear every day until Friday 24 December.

It will run for 26 days, with the first day being A, the second day being B, and so on. This will highlight businesses, products and services beginning with the corresponding letter to create the perfect Christmas gift list from independent retailers across the region.

Launch posts will be posted across our Warwickshire Towns Network social media on Wednesday 24 November.

The aim is to raise the digital profile of independent retailers and small businesses across all towns and rural areas in Warwickshire.

The posts will go out on the Warwickshire Towns Network Facebook and Twitter @WarksTN channels, as well as being shared across Warwickshire County Council’s other social media channels.

I have attached a press release/article for use on your channels, which it would be great if you could host. Please use any festive imagery you have of your town!

Each will be using #Warksmas2021 and tagging the town, the retailer or business is located in, for example #Nuneaton, #Leamington or #Alcester.

Below are a series of suggested social media posts.

Please do feel free to use them as a template for your own, all we ask is that you tag in @WarksTN on Twitter or Warwickshire Towns Network on Facebook, and use #Warksmas2021 and the hashtag of your town / district. We’d also encourage you to share and like posts throughout the campaign.

Twitter

Let independent retailers make your #Christmas sparkle and shine — follow @WarksTN and #Warksmas2021 for a festive A-Z of gift ideas and recommendations from your local high streets

Shop local this #Christmas with the help an A-Z of independent retailers, their products and services… follow @WarksTN and join the conversation using #Warksmas2021

Facebook

Let independent retailers make your #Christmas sparkle and shine — like the Warwickshire Towns Network page or follow #Warksmas2021 for a festive A-Z of gift ideas and recommendations from your local high streets

Shop local this #Christmas with the help an A-Z of independent retailers, their products and services… like Warwickshire Towns Network and join the conversation using #Warksmas2021

Press Release

Towns across Warwickshire will be given their own special Santa this year as part of a campaign to promote their local area and showcase the region’s retailers and small businesses.

The #Warksmas2021 social media campaign is being launched by Warwickshire County Council to celebrate businesses across the county and encourage residents to shop local this Christmas.

As part of the campaign, a prominent figure from each town will be nominated as their local Santa to curate a special gift list showcasing five businesses which best represent their town.

A social media ‘A-to-Z’ will also highlight businesses, products and services beginning with the corresponding letter – creating the perfect Christmas gift list from independent retailers across the region.

There will also be a countdown to Christmas with a new business Advent Calendar revealing a quirky fact each day to highlight what makes Warwickshire great.

It follows a hugely successful Warksmas campaign last year which reached 175,000 people; and generated 5,300 likes, comments and shares from 350 posts on Facebook and Twitter.

Cllr Kam Kaur, Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place at Warwickshire County Council, said: “Christmas is all about coming together, so it’s a perfect time to support our region’s local retailers and the very best they have to offer.

“Our campaign last year was a huge success and the fact our small businesses were able to reach 175,000 people – the size of Nuneaton, Leamington and Warwick combined – is testament to the power of social media.

“Social media is now such an essential marketplace for all businesses and as a result the digital profile of a retailer is more important now than ever before.

“So whether you are a business owner or a shopper, please do get involved and join the conversation with the #Warksmas2021 hashtag.”

Follow @WarksTN on Twitter and Instagram or like Warwickshire Towns Network on Facebook for more updates and join the conversation.

To find out more about the campaign visit: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/buyeatlocal