Date: 01 December 2022
Across the country, High Street retailers have had a tough time and for many the Christmas season is make or break. A great festive window display is an important part of attracting potential customers in.
That was the starting point for the Parish of Haslemere to sponsor the town’s Christmas window competition, now in its third year.
The Revd Justin Manley-Cooper is the Town’s Chaplain and one of the people behind the project.
“It's the church’s Christmas present to the town,” says Justin. “It’s designed to cost the retailers nothing, hopefully increase footfall and for everyone to have fun. Congregation members are encouraged to tell shopkeepers which window they liked and hopefully to start a conversation.”
Last year about 120 shops took part.
The church takes on all marketing and advertising costs and provides locally sourced hampers for five different prizes. One, for the most popular window, is voted for via the parish website, driving people to the church’s site in the run up to Christmas.
The prizes are all £100 hampers bought from shops in the town and this Christmas the judging panel will be led by Bishop Jo.
For the first time local schools are getting involved too. For those few retailers who can’t add some festive sparkle to their displays, the junior schools are offering to provide the decorations.
“While it fills the odd gap, it also gets the school children involved,” says Justin, “Which means that the parents will come and look at the windows, all adding to the festive community spirit, which is really what it’s all about.”
For Justin the competition fosters community connection. “It’s about bringing everybody closer together, walking side-by-side and the retailers and the church coming together,” he says.