Chester BID chair Katrina Kerr has offered support for the city’s businesses as the second lockdown of the year looms. In a letter to members BID have stated that they are ” determined to do everything we can to help you weather the next four weeks.”
Businesses classed as “essential” will be given promotion as well as businesses which are switching to online/delivery operations. Says Katrina :
“We also will put more marketing spend behind improving our reach. All our social media channels continue to grow, giving us more clout than ever. Instagram +82%, Facebook +19%, Twitter +7%, LinkedIn +23% Mailing List +15%. But we can still push it further and to maximise our effort so it is important that whenever you can you share our information via your channels too. ” The BIDs digital high street map , which launched in April ( see https://thechesterblog.com/2020/04/15/ch1-bid-launch-digital-high-street-map/) will continue with updated information of businesses that are trading and how we can support them.
With lockdown currently expected to end in early December, BID aim to encourage Christmas shoppers and to that end are funding free parking free parking from 10AM to 6PM at the racecourse on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as soon as non-essential retail is allowed to open.
Another initiative to encourage local spend is the Chester Gift Card . The launch will take place over Christmas with businesses currently signing up to the pre paid card scheme. For more details visit https://townandcitygiftcards.com/product/chester-gift-card/
With difficult times ahead BID’s rallying call is to “support each other through the coming months. We will be pushing the message out that it doesn’t have to be an Amazon Christmas – people can still support Chester businesses by buying from them online.”
The Chester blog 