Breckland News

16th August 2010

Traders are all winners in Jigsaw Competition

A market town competition designed to get people exploring their local High Street is proving a hit with shoppers and traders alike.

Shop owners is Watton say the Wayland Jigsaw Competition, which was launched in May, is having a real impact on footfall.

In some cases people who had never set foot in some of the High Street shops before the competition started are now repeat customers after having discovered the shops while on the Jigsaw trail.

John Ball who owns JC Books in Watton said: “I have been in the town for years and have never seen so many new faces in the shop since the competition launch.
“People have commented to me that they had no idea the shop existed and that they would be back to use our services.”

The Wayland area boasts some fantastic independent retailers and the Jigsaw competition encourages people to shop locally by offering them the chance to win prizes if they pick up Jigsaw pieces from all of the participating retailers.

Prizes include a 40” Sony Plasma TV, Food hampers, gift vouchers and more and with the deadline for the competition having been extended to September 3 there is still time to enter.

Adrian Stasiak, Executive Member for Communities at Breckland Council, said: “I am thrilled this competition is having such a positive impact on the town’s traders.
“Shopping locally is one of the key ways in which we can all help keep our market towns alive and thriving and this just goes to show that sometimes it pays to shout about what’s right on your doorstep just to make sure everyone knows its there.”

The winner of the Jigsaw competition will be announced during the Wayland Celebration of Culture the next day.

The Wayland Celebration of Culture set to be an exposition of music, dance, food and drink from all the cultures that make up Wayland has a new date for your diary.

Breckland Council’s Pride in Breckland team will host the event in partnership with the Wayland Chamber of Commerce on Saturday 4th September, 7.30pm at Watton Sports Centre.

The evening will see a packed programme of events including Belly dancing demonstrations, Live music from local young groups and Food and drink samples from around the UK as well as Portugal, Poland and Lithuania.