A new campaign called the Big Heart of Swansea is being launched to help attract more shoppers into Swansea City Centre.
The Big Heart of Swansea campaign will be launched with a series of events on Oxford Street, Portland Street and Union Street in Swansea City Centre on Thursday (August 22) from 10am to 2pm.
The events will include football fun with ex-Swans star Lee Trundle and an interactive mural on Union Street. A local artist will be attending to paint heart shapes on the mural and then visitors will be encouraged to write what they love about Swansea City Centre in the shapes.
Swansea Council and Swansea BID (Business Improvement District) are behind the new campaign.
The new and improved City Centre Loyalty Card will also be re-launched at the event. The card can be redeemed in person in the businesses taking part to help boost the number of City Centre visitors and improve trade for local shops, bars, restaurants and other businesses. Over 100 offers are included in the re-launched card, which is now plastic.
Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “Swansea City Centre has so much going for it. As well as a terrific selection of major high street retailers, it’s also home to the country’s best indoor market and a rich variety of independent traders. This helps Swansea stand out from the crowd at a time when so many other city centres are carbon copies of one-another.
“But our City Centre’s not just about the shops. There’s also a vibrant, top quality events and entertainment programme throughout the year that complements scores of high-quality bars and restaurants within touching distance of attractions like the Grand Theatre, the LC, the Maritime Quarter and the waterfront.
“Swansea people are so passionate about their city and sports teams, and this campaign is all about supporting our local city centre’s shops and services in these tough economic times. I’d urge people to get similarly passionate about this campaign too because the City Centre’s so important to our economic wellbeing.”
Russell Greenslade, Chief Executive of Swansea BID, said: “We created the new and exciting Big Heart of Swansea brand and robust marketing campaign to encourage even more shoppers and visitors to sample the restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shops, hotels and services that are on offer right in the heart of the centre of the city.
“We have joined forces with Swansea Council to launch this new single powerful consumer brand for the city centre so we have one message and one brand focused on helping recruit more shoppers and visitors into the area.
“Following the loyalty card re-launch, businesses and areas themselves will feature in the marketing based around seasonal trends. Promotions such as late-night shopping, parking offers, bus offers and events will all feature.”
Other events taking place on Thursday include Let’s Get Messy arts and crafts, face-painting and a live outdoor broadcast from the Wave. There’ll be free heart-shaped love spoons and Welshcakes courtesy of Swansea Market, plus other giveaways, live music and street dancing.
Visitors can also register on the day to win a Swansea VIP Experience worth over £1,500, which includes the chance to win a break for two to Menorca, staying half-board at a Thomson four-star platinum hotel.
More than 70,000 loyalty cards will be available to residents across Swansea Bay on Wednesday thanks to the South Wales Evening Post, Llanelli Star and Carmarthen Journal newspapers. Cards will also be distributed at Thursday’s event and will be made available at the City Centre Management Offices on Plymouth Street. People can even download the card from the Swansea Big Local App. This is why BLA the Alien – the Big Local App’s colourful mascot – will also be wondering the City Centre on Thursday too.
Have a look at http://www.bigheartofswansea.co.uk for more information about the City Centre and to register for your Loyalty Card and chance to be a competition winner.
