TAKING PLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2017 THE METROPOLE MARKET AIMED TO BRING FOUR QUINTESSENTIALLY ECCENTRIC MARKET EXPERIENCES TO LANSDOWNE

An ensemble of all things creative and delicious, the Bournemouth Metropole Market took place for the first-time last year in Lansdowne. On the last Sunday of the month in the lead up to Christmas, it celebrated an eclectic collection of local businesses and traders. A free and family-friendly event, each market featured a distinct theme, from the Big Launch to the Day of the Dead, an Alternative Christmas and a Christmas Candy Land. Each market included an abundance of producers, food and drink stalls, artists, craftspeople, live music and spectacular street performances.

THE ORGANISERS OF THE METROPOLE MARKET APPROACHED DARREN NORTHEAST PR TO HELP ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE MARKET, ATTRACT ATTENDEES AND BOOST LOCAL TRADE

To attract visitors to the market, we created new Metropole Market social media channels, providing regular updates on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. To increase engagement, we held monthly Facebook Competitions, with prizes donated by local businesses, and ran Facebook Live videos during the markets. Facebook advertising was used specifically to target families, parents, local residents, tourists and students.

Furthermore, we sought to secure regular editorial in a wide variety of local publications, alongside appearances on regional radio shows. We also produced regular news updates and blogs for the Metropole Market website.

THE METROPOLE MARKET TOOK OVER LANSDOWNE FOR FOUR DAYS, BRINGING OVER 40,000 PEOPLE INTO BOURNEMOUTH ON NORMALLY QUIET SUNDAYS

Getting people to engage with the market, we grew their following on social media from zero to over 2300 Followers. Our Facebook competitions were also hugely successful. One competition to win a jar of fudge reached approximately 10,000 people with over 500 reactions, comments & shares.

We wrote and distributed pre-event and post-event press releases, highlighting the fabulous music offering, entertainment, traders and local businesses involved. This secured editorial in the Bournemouth Echo, Daily Mail, Mags4Dorset, Bournemouth Uni Publications (Buzz & Rock), Dorset Tourism Corporate Consumer Newsletters, Primary Times and Bournemouth Town. We also gained radio appearances for the event organisers on BBC Radio Solent and Wave 105.

Welcomed by the local business community, these activities brought tens of thousands of people to Lansdowne on each Sunday.