For six days last week, Andover Radio with the team from In Andover were inviting people into the high street to support our local shops.
In partnership with the Andover Business Improvement District (BID), Andover Radio were encouraging people back to our high street and use our local stores. A recent survey of the high street area showed that Andover has over 130 businesses in operation.
Andover Radio devised and hosted a ‘street promotion’ where £25,000 in cash could be won. ‘Crack the Code’ ran each afternoon from Monday 20th July to Saturday 26th July. Whereas the full £25,000 wasn’t won, a thousand pounds of #ShopAndover vouchers were won.
Over 1,000 took part in the town centre competition.
“Businesses have had a really tough time recently”, says BID manager Steve Godwin. “We have been working hard to ensure businesses are ready to open again and shoppers feel safe when they come to our beautiful high street.
“We thought that this competition with Andover Radio which encouraged local shopping and was publicised on radio, across social media, on a 48-sheet billboard and in the local press was a novel and fun way to get people shopping locally”.
Shoppers were asked to enter a code into a screen on the front of a safe. The correct 6-digit code would open the safe, which contained £25,000 in cash.
There was some celebrity entrants, charity ambassador and patron Jordan Wylie, the host of the Channel 4 programme ‘Hunted’ played, as did social media celeb Amie Scott. popular local hairstylist Michael Cape also had several attempts. He said on Wednesday,“I think there’s some thought behind the six digits. I think it’s Andover Radio’s phone number” (883100).
On Friday ‘Cape’ opted for the first 6 digits of Pi (314159); the bearded barber lucked out to cheers and applause from the gathered crowd.
Leader of Test Valley Borough Council Phil North also tried his luck. “I am not hopeful that I will win £25,000”, he said. “But, I’m gonna have a bash”. Perhaps fortunately for the organisers, Cllr North did not win £25,000. He added, “It’s really important that people come in and support our wonderful local businesess”.
The #ShopAndover vouchers can be used in 17 local businesses:
- Just Teasin’, Bridge Street
- La Di Da, Bridge Street
- Ewe Cash, Bridge Street
- Andover Framing, High Street
- Burgo’s Pet World, George Yard
- C&M DIY, High Street
- Travelling Cupcake, upper High Street
- Indiglow, upper High Street
- Test Valley Models, Chantry Centre
- Alex McGarry Studio, Waterloo Court
- The Record Box, George Yard
- Tip Top Balloons and Thornton’s, Union Street
- Mooch, Bridge Street
- Canto Gelato, High Street
- David Mellor Family Jewellers, Chantry Centre
- Globe Galleries, Globe Galleries
- Photos2Print, Bridge Street
- Blue Onion Cafe, upper High Street
- Toni & Guy, upper High Street
Kelly Jones owner of ice Cream parlour Canto Gelato in Andover high street told 95.9FM Andover Radio, “There’s a really good vibe around town”. Kelly added that the business which now has colourful seating outside has had a good week as peope came into the high street. It was also helped by the schools breaking up on Wednesday.
See more photos of the event by clicking here
Andover Radio management have committed to hosting a further event as and when the weather and Covid-19 restrictions permit.
