The first bestofhaverhill Christmas Marketplace held at the Days Inn was such a success that it is already scheduled in the calendar for next year! Around 50 local businesses attended the event which was held to showcase bestofhaverhill business members.
bestofhaverhill members showcase their businesses
A number of businesses were displaying and selling their wares – Amandajulia Couture, arevolution, C2C Wines, David Doughty @ The Gallery, Days Inn, Fionas, Indigo Hypnotherapy and Counselling, K & A Designs, Tony Strowger Jewellers and Travel Counsellors. There were some beautiful displays including Fiona’s with her stunning seasonal floral arrangements and wreaths. C2C Wines offered wine tastings so that people could “try before they buy” on their range of wines from small vineyards in the South of France. This sales strategy seemed to work well!
Those business members with a more business to business focus were given the opportunity to talk about they had to offer in a two minute pitch. Adams Harrison, C B Electrical Ltd, Days Inn, HAVO, Paul Donno & Co Ltd, Printing.com@ RM Design, St Nicholas Hospice Care, Stylize Display Graphics and Wicked Wheels all rose to the occasion and entertained the audience with their informative and often humorous takes on their business.
Charity in Haverhill
Margaret Marks from the Community First Responders was invited to the meeting to talk about the charitable status of the organisation and the vital work that they performed in the local community. Frequently the first on the scene at accidents and emergencies the timely attendance of the First Responders often had a positive impact on the outcome of an emergency situation. There was a raffle, with prizes donated by bestofhaverhill business members, which raised £54.50 for the Community First Responders.
Abby Mayes, Corporate Fundraiser and Ian Norris, Community Fundraiser, for St Nicholas Hospice Care thanked the Haverhill business community for their support over 2010. The Hospice Jingles campaign in Haverhill had been a huge success raising around £1000. Ian Norris thanked Samuel Ward Academy for the wonderful support that the school and the students had given the charity throughout the year. Paul Donno & Co Ltd was also thanked for making the Hospice their chosen charity for 2010 and for winning the Accumulator Challenge fundraising initiative.
Elaine Carr, owner of thebestofhaverhill comments, “This was one of my favourite events of the year. There was a real Christmas atmosphere, partly down to the stunning festive decorations in the Days Inn, the Christmas muffins and mince pies! My thanks go to all our business members who took part in the event and made it such a success. These are all local, independent businesses and for many of them it is difficult to take time out to attend events – so it really is appreciated that they supported the Marketplace.
The business community in Haverhill is very generous with their time and it was lovely to hear how successful the Hospice Jingles event was. Several bestofhaverhill business members were Santas for the day – including Neil Saville from Stylize Display Graphics, David Doughty from The Gallery and Steve Filbey from C2C Wines."
