PAGE 46 • FESTIVE NEWS • DECEMBER 2018
By Mike Truelove, Manager, Hereford Business Improvement District
For the many thousands of shoppers that
flock to Hereford each year, most will
appreciate that Hereford is a City that
has taken huge strides forward in
ensuring visitors have a truly
‘Christmassy’ time. For consumers it’s
all about the experience of having an
enjoyable visit that combines genuine
Christmas ambiance, shopping choice,
customer service and of course value for
money. Hereford has worked hard this
year to offer a fabulous shopping trip;
retailers appreciate how important it is to
compete with other locations to attract
custom. People do want to shop local
and it’s about giving them as many
reasons as possible to do so.
What HBID is seeing are savvy shops
and food outlets, both large and small,
that have invested in their staff to offer
customer service and value that is ‘above
and beyond’. Just talk to Maylord
Shopping Centre or Superdrug in Eign
Gate – both have invested in staff
development and knowledge and will
tell you that customers love the attention
and assistance given; something you will
not get on the internet. The till also tells
a good story and there is clear evidence
of the link with customer service to
improved takings. And, not to forget, for
every ten pounds you spend locally, the
power of that money increases to
approximately £25 as it goes on to pay
for accountants, suppliers and so on.
Hereford absolutely offers a unique
shopping experience set in one of
Europe’s oldest cities of period
buildings, mixed with over three
hundred shops (and a strong independent
quarter plus big named brands) and
parking spaces for over three thousand
vehicles. Many stores also offer click
and collect for online items and
ultimately, how can you beat the
experience of meeting up with friends
and family to shop, seeing and touching
the products you want, and combining
your visit to one of over one hundred
eateries that we have? In terms of
attractions there is lots going on
including our ‘Victorian Carol Singers
and Snow’, a Christmas Victorian
Church Street on selected days (please
visit Hereford City Life Facebook Page)
complete with snow or our two roaming
Cockney Chimney Sweeps who are just
pure comedy to watch, maybe you’ll
meet our Ice Queen and Jack Frost or, if
you’re very lucky, you might spot our
special sofa competition; get down to the
sofa within 60 minutes and you will have
a chance to win £250 in vouchers!
Whatever you do, Hereford cannot wait
to welcome you.
PACKING BAGS FOR CHARITY
Hereford Lions Club is renowned for its wide-
ranging
charity fund raising ideas but
bag-packing for supermarket customers was not
on the list. Until now.
One of the club’s newer members, Sian Bayliss
suggested it as one way of raising funds for local
charities supported by the Lions and the city
centre Tesco quickly agreed to Sian’s request to
host the event on Saturday, October 20.” The
customers were generous with their donations and
by the end of the day more than £500 had been
dropped in the collecting buckets,” said Sian.
She added: “Just as important as the money was
the opportunity to promote the community work
undertaken by Lions International here in
Hereford and overseas as well as encouraging
more men and women to join us.”
The club sent £1,000 to the Lions International
relief fund to help the victims of the terrible
earthquake which recently devastated an
Indonesian island.
For Tesco worker Emily Morris, 24 (top right)
who liaised with Sian and ensured the event ran
so smoothly, it brought back happy childhood
memories of family seaside holidays in the Lions
M
"( ) & "%# $
"" "
""
""
!
%
$ % ) $"'! "
"! & #$
% %
! ") "
) %"'$
#$" '
% & '% &" ! "'&
B
Club’s Holiday Home in Burnham-
on-Sea.. “Me and my brothers and
sisters had really wonderful holidays
thanks to the Lions and this was an
opportunity for me to says thankyou
to the Lions Club” said Emily
The Lions Club mascot Lennie the
Lion was also on duty, making friends
with customers, especially the
children..
Plans are being made for another
bag-packing event at Tesco Belmont.
OKA
'$
&$
&
"$
$ "$
Th
T
h e Cross
C r ro o s s Keys
K eys
ey
y Inn
n
The
A R
W i t h i n g t o n
H e r e f o r d
H R 1 3 N N
T e l :
0 1 4 3 2 8 2 0 6 1 6
with
or Christmas wi
Buy a stunning gift f for
t h our
Acrylic
Canvas & Acryl
A
ic Prints
Vouc
ouche
hers
rs Available
Prices from only £25 Gift V
Call in to see display or visi
visit t
www.csjsigns.co.uk
w
w w .csjsig ns .c o .uk
Hereford
Her efor d
Q
Quality
u alitty Signs & P
Print
rint sinc
since
e 1953
t t. . 01432 274251
e. . inf
[email protected]
e
o@csjsig ns .c o .uk
Unit 2a, P
Premier
r emier Business P
Park,
ar k , F
Faraday
ar ada y R
Road,
oad , Gr
Grandstand
andstand R
Road,
oad , Her
Hereford,
ef or d , HR4 9NZ