Category Archives: events

Online videos help to promote Nelson businesses

Fifteen local businesses are now promoting themselves through short high-definition videos on a dedicated “Nelson Shops & Events” YouTube channel, with more being added all the time.

The featured businesses range from florists to cycle shops, hardware stores to hairdressers, butchers to bookshops and counselling services to cake bakers. The two things they have in common are their presence in Nelson’s thriving business community and their enthusiasm for embracing social media to showcase what they do.

The Nelson Shops & Events channel has been set up as part of a four-month campaign to promote Nelson town centre and its array of independent shops and businesses. It is spearheaded by Nelson Town Team, which appointed Burnley-based Scott Dawson Advertising to manage the campaign.

Other elements include a co-ordinated social media campaign, promoting Nelson through popular social networking sites Facebook (www.facebook.com/nelsonshops) and Twitter (twitter.com/nelson_portas).

Lara Oddie is vice-chair of Nelson Town Team and owner of one of the local businesses featured on the YouTube channel, Oddie’s family bakers and cake makers.

“Having the video on YouTube is a new way for us to let people know what we do and about the range of goods and services we offer,” said Lara.

“It was very straightforward to make the video, working with Scott Dawson, and good fun too. I’m very pleased with the results.”

The four-month campaign will culminate in a special event, the Nelson Food and Drink Festival, on Saturday September 19^th. Featuring a host of local producers and food businesses, alongside a Continental Market and live cookery demonstrations by celebrity chef Richard Fox, the festival also has its own evolving website at www.nelsonfoodfestival.co.uk

Banners promoting the festival will go up in the town centre for the weeks running up to it and a festival brochure highlighting all the attractions will be distributed to 25,000 local homes.

To view the promotional videos simply search under “Nelson Shops & Events” on YouTube. Other local shops and businesses wanting to get involved in the promotional campaign or the Food Festival can contact Sue Lawson at Scott Dawson on 01282 423846 (email: sue@scottdawson.co.uk) to discuss the various options.

Don’t mess with Jesse… he’s got a tank!

Jesse McClure, breakout star of hit US reality TV show Storage Hunters, took control of some hardcore British hardware during his latest UK trip.

Jesse with Heywood Tanks crew Dale (left) and Harry He visited Heywood Tanks, in North Manchester, where he took an Abbot 105 Howitzer Self-Propelled Gun for a spin around the field, loving every minute of his high-calibre adrenalin-fuelled joyride.

“It was awesome!” said Jesse, instantly recognisable with his trademark sideburns, shades and leather jacket.

“I had no idea when I left California for my trip that I’d get to drive a genuine British tank. I love the UK. You guys rock!”

Earlier in the day Jesse had been celebrity guest at Accrington Food and Drink Festival, where the tank was part of a military display. Back at Heywood Tanks HQ Jesse jumped at the chance to take the tank for a spin, soon getting to grips with its controls.

“I’ve driven all kinds of weird vehicles over the years, but this was my first time in a tank,” he said. “It was incredible and I want to thank Heywood Tanks for letting me do it.”

A video of Jesse’s driving experience at Heywood Tanks is on YouTube

Now Jesse is hoping to attend this year’s Heywood Tanks ‘Yesteryear Festival’ if it coincides with his next UK trip planned for September.

Featuring around 50 military vehicles, plus agricultural exhibits and other vintage vehicles, the Yesteryear Festival takes place from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday September 12^th and 13^th. The venue is Heywood Tanks HQ at Collop Gate Farm, Manchester Road, Heywood (OL10 2PX).

As well as the chance to see tanks in action on the specially designed 100-acre site, other attractions include re-enactors, stalls, vintage clothing, a fairground, craft tent and beer tent. Admission is £5 for adults and £2 for children or £12 for a family ticket. Over the past two years the festival has raised more than £30,000 for the Springhill Hospice, in Rochdale.

Meanwhile, fans of Storage Hunters, the highest rating show when aired on UK TV’s Dave channel, can catch Jesse on the British spin-off, Storage Hunter UK. He is set to make a second guest appearance in the new series on Tuesday July 21^st at 8pm on Dave, and watch out for fireworks when things get physical with one of his rival UK bidders!

If you are interested in booking Jesse McClure to appear at your event when he’s next in the UK, check the ‘Tour Dates’ section of his website: www.jessemcclure.co.uk

For more about Heywood Tanks, see their Facebook page.

Oddie’s on board for bumper food festival

Renowned Nelson-based family bakers Oddie’s has been confirmed as a key sponsor of the town’s Food and Drink Festival on Saturday September 19^th.

Established 110 years ago and with 16 shops across East Lancashire, Oddie’s is a local institution and a firm favourite with generations of folk who appreciate top quality locally baked bread and cakes and delicious pies and pasties.

Lara Oddie, the fourth generation of her family to run the business, commented: “We’re delighted to get on board with the Nelson Food and Drink Festival and really looking forward to a bumper day for the town, with something to suit all tastes.”

The festival is the culmination of a four-month campaign to promote Nelson’s town centre and its array of independent shops and businesses. It is the brainchild of Nelson Town Team, which appointed Burnley-based Scott Dawson Advertising to run the promotional campaign.

A dedicated website (www.neslonfoodfestival.co.uk) is already up and running and will evolve throughout the campaign. A “Nelson Shops & Events” YouTube channel has been set up, featuring a dozen short videos showcasing local shops and businesses, with more being added all the time.

A social media campaign is under way to promote the town through Facebook (www.facebook.com/nelsonshops) and Twitter (twitter.com/nelson_portas), banners will go up in the town centre and a Food Festival brochure highlighting all the attractions will be distributed to 25,000 local homes nearer the event.

Key attractions will include a host of food stalls in the town centre ranging from traditional Lancashire produce to Asian delicacies and a Continental Market section. There will be live cookery demonstrations hosted by celebrity chef Richard Fox, who starred in ITV’s “Men Brewing Badly” alongside actor Neil Morrissey, plus street entertainers and activities for children.

Part of Oddie’s involvement is to sponsor a “Cakelicious” children’s cake decorating competition by donating hundreds of delicious plain buns and all the materials to decorate them. Oddies is also sponsoring a town centre banner and advertising in the festival brochure.

Earlier this year Scott Dawson Advertising ran a similar food festival in Accrington, attracting more than 10,000 people into the town centre and market hall, where businesses have felt a sustained benefit.

Lara Oddie, who is also vice-chair of Nelson Town Team, added: “Oddie’s got involved in the Accrington Food Festival by sponsoring a face painter outside out town centre shop. It really gave a boost to Accrington as a town and to a lot of businesses ever since, so I had no hesitation in getting involved with the Nelson Food and Drink Festival in the hope it will do the same here.

“Sponsoring the cake decorating competition is right up our street because it’s what we’ve been doing in Nelson for over a hundred years!”

Other Nelson shops and businesses wanting to get involved in the campaign or the Food Festival on September 19^th can contact Sue Lawson at Scott Dawson on 01282 423846 (email: sue@scottdawson.co.uk) to discuss the various options.