Summers over, the nights are closing in so I guess it’s OK to start looking forward to Christmas 2014.

Last year we launched our Windsor & Eton Rotary Club Advent Calendar and I used Twitter to engage with some of the local businesses… this year that ground work is now paying dividends…

@LaithwaitesWin contacted me a few weeks ago and asked what was happening about this year’s calendar… they have rather smartly built their in store Christmas promotion around being part of our calendar… great idea, maximising the publicity for all concerned 😉

Last Monday at lunch the need for more prizes for the advent calendar was reinforced as the final list is needed shortly so we can get it published in readiness for selling during November.

On Thursday afternoon I hit Twitter at 5:14pm highlighting our need to those I follow via @windsordaily that looked like businesses that might be willing to help… I pinged out around 80 tweets on Thursday and then a further 20ish Saturday morning… so let’s make that 100 tweets sent to individual recipients.

During Thursday evening & Friday, 3 businesses stepped up… Jazzmouse with the offer of a day in his recording Studio worth over £500, La Tasca with food & wine, Polly Put The Kettle On with a Christmas plate! Half a dozen others just checking with the powers that be… great result… 10% positive response wanting to help out… Ewelina, GM at La Tasca Windsor hands me a £50 food & wine voucher 😉

Calling on others in town in real time… Nick who runs an antique gift shop has donated a silver necklace & earrings… nice…

Posting on the Berkshire Blog brought in an offer for a yoga session from Pam… and a free will from Martin Elliott!

Made sense to push out via my Business in Berkshire LinkedIn Group on Friday evening and Stuart was the first to step up with some artwork… Karin brought the cosmetics… Garry’s offering sunglasses… Ann’s offering a series of 3 healing sessions… excellent…

With those who have shown good intent and those who are empowered to offer items, this could total 20+ over a sleepy weekend… that’s the way to social do it…

Would be good to get another 10 by Wednesday and fill up those available spots… if you’d like to join in and don’t have an obvious gift then you can’t beat a nice bottle of Champagne to get Christmas Day off to a great start and our friends at Laithwaites are only too pleased to help us out with a Super Special Santa discount for our supporters… happy days 😉

Tweet me, email me, phone me… your call!

Thank you.

Jon
07717 820823