The economy may have been piling on the pressure for many businesses this year, but it
hasn’t dampened their goodwill towards great local causes, if our experiences in the last few weeks are anything to go by.
Last weekend the Target PR team ran a pop-up shop for the day in Cheltenham's Regent Arcade, with a mission to raise as much as we could for Sue Ryder. Our magnificent One Day Wonderland raised more than £800 on the day, but none of that would have been possible without the help of lots of local businesses.
Bev, Target’s office manager and chief blagger of freebies, led the sterling work inviting suppliers, local retailers, and friends of our business to get involved - and we were all overwhelmed by the positive reaction, even from companies with whom we had no previous relationship.
These are all businesses led by people who care about the community in which they're based. Happy to do their little bit. And when you add it all together, that's a lot of positive energy.
If you happened to be on the first floor of Regent Arcade on Saturday you may have seen some of that positive energy in action - the public responded with enthusiasm, and our team excelled at turning a disused retail unit into a hive of goodwill. (You'll find lots of photos on our Facebook page!)
If you missed it, however, don't worry - there's plenty of time to get involved between now and 18 January when our fundraising finale takes place - the Grand Balloon Race. Just £5 a ticket with a chance to win a fabulous overnight stay with dinner at the luxurious Cotswold 88 Hotel in Painswick.
In the meantime, what better way to finish this post than with a roll-call of all the fantastic companies that have supported us so far!!
I make that 36 reasons to be cheerful - have a great Christmas!
Regent Arcade
Brasserie Blanc, Cheltenham
Marks & Spencer, Cheltenham
Hobbs, Cheltenham
Grafx, Cheltenham
N3 Display, Bristol
Alpha Response, Gloucester
Typecraft, Cheltenham
Stu-art Design
Cheltenham Racecourse
SnowDome, Tamworth
Ellenborough Park Hotel, Cheltenham
Sutdio Fit, Cheltenham
The Entertainer, Cheltenham
Boots, Cheltenham
Sugar Loaf, Cheltenham
BHS, Cheltenham
Lakeland, Cheltenham
Cotswold88 Hotel, Painswick
Specsavers, Cheltenham
Travellers Finds, Cheltenham
Thorntons, Cheltenham
Waterstones, Cheltenham
5 Star Valeting Solutions
Brickhampton Golf Course
Cheltenham Town Hall
Venture Photography, Cheltenham
Toni & Guy, Cheltenham
Lakeside Chippy, Cheltenham
Bodyshop, Cheltenham
Calendar Club, Cheltenham
Little Bag Company, Cheltenham
Folk Dean Balloons
Underwoods Steel
QuoLux
SLG
SLG
Sarah Bryars
Chief Executive, Target PR
