‘Social Media Champions’ will boost Thame’s top high street bid

THAME is once again entering the Great British High Street Competition in the Small Market Towns category. Last year there were 230 competition entries from across the UK and Thame was awarded a Rising Star award for its entry, one of 10 market towns to receive this accolade.

But Thame is not resting on our laurels and this year is aiming to win in our category! We might even win the Winner of Winners award as Britain’s Best (won in 2015 by Bishy Road, York).

Thame is also submitting entries in a new category, High Street Heroes, celebrating individual achievement. There are four categories, best market trader, best store manager or employee (independent retailer), best store manager or employee (national retailer), and best under 25 years old.

Last year the judges commended Thame especially for its use of social media, so this year, the aim is to build up our social media presence for this year’s entry.

Helen Johns, who is once again co-ordinating Thame’s entry, said: “We’re grateful for funding from SODC and Thame Town Council which has made it possible for us to work with a professional social media specialist, Mushroom Soufflé, who will help us extend the use of social media around the high street. Thame social media champions are being trained to give advice and encouragement to high street businesses, getting them tweeting and putting posts on Facebook. The GBHS organisers are watching what we do, so it’s important that as many people as possible get active, engaging with others, raising profile for their own and other businesses, as well as for our wonderful market town.”

The social media champions will be active on the high street over the coming weeks, sporting #GBHighSt t-shirts, sponsored by Mr Mend of Thame.

Twitter has joined other competition sponsors this year, with an award for the Best Shop on Twitter (open to small businesses with a rateable value below £18k). Anyone – shop staff or members of the public – can nominate a shop to win, by tweeting #BestGBTwitterShop and the shop’s Twitter @handle. Nominations must be in by Friday, September 9. The Twitter feeds of nominated shops will be assessed by looking back at their tweeting between  July 22 and August 22, in order to decide on the winner, who receives £1000 of advertising credit plus a visit to Twitter’s London offices for a best practice workshop.

For the Small Market Town and High Street Heroes categories, entries must be in by Friday, September 9. Helen continued: “From then onwards, it’s really important to keep promoting Thame on social media and through other publicity channels to increase our chances of winning the Small Market Town and other awards. During this time, the judges will be reviewing and shortlisting applications, announcing category finalists in mid-October. ”

The judges will visit finalists between October and mid-November, assessing entrants and deciding on winners. But the public plays a big part in this too – public voting makes up 50% of the final results. Last year 200,000 public votes were cast and the organisers are hoping that figure will be exceeded this year. From mid-October, anyone can vote once a day for one finalist in each category. The strength of public support will be visible in league tables, showing how each finalist is doing. Finalists will be invited to an awards ceremony in London in early December, when category winners and the winner of winners will be announced.

So, support our Great British High Street, and get tweeting!