£50 prizes and trophies to tempt shoppers back to be surprised in Blackburn

With the Christmas shopping season fast approaching the Blackburn Business Improvement District (BID) is tempting customers back to see the changes with an innovative monthly award scheme encouraging them to discover the difference in the town.

Shoppers could win a £50 voucher for nominating a winning local business for a ‘Be Surprised!’ award. The new initiative is fronted by Blackburn Christmas lights switch on host and celebrity Ted Robbins and is backed by the Business in the Community Healthy High Streets national brands; Santander, Marks and Spencer, Greggs, EE and Exterion media.

The scheme encourages visitors to put forward a business or an individual in the town based on customer service, outstanding product knowledge, innovative services or value for money. The ‘Be Surprised!’ awards will celebrate the achievements of the town’s best businesses, venues, and events as well as entrepreneurs and shop assistants with a monthly ‘Be Surprised!’ trophy presentation.

Each month the Blackburn BID team will pick a winner to be presented with a trophy and there will also be a chance for the nominee to win £50 in vouchers to spend in a shop of their choice.

The scheme celebrates all that’s good about the changing visitor experience of the town. 50,000 nomination forms are being distributed in a new Christmas shopping guide which will be available in shops, businesses, cafes and salons from next week. Customers can also vote online.

Manager of the Blackburn BID, Harriet Roberts, said:

Blackburn’s a fast-changing town. There is real momentum now in terms of the regeneration that is under way right across the town centre after an extensive programme of investment.  We are keen to hear people’s feedback especially if they haven’t visited in a while and they see for themselves how things are getting bigger and better, cleaner and greener alongside celebrating and recognising Blackburn’s fantastic shops and friendly staff who go that extra mile.

For more information or to download a form visit www.blackburnbid.co.uk