SHOPPING FESTIVALS.

Northern Advocate, 19 January 1922, Page 4

SHOPPING FESTIVALS.

PROPOSED LOCAL ONE.

A suggestion which hitd been made to him by a friend that Whangarei should take up the idea of shopping such as have been run in England under the control of Chambers of Commerce, was mentioned by Mr A. T. Brainsby at last night's meeting of the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce. He explained that the idea seemed to resolve itself into two things. One was 'competitions for window dressing, the aim. being to promote competition between the various shops in showing goods, and the other jras to show under favourable conditions what could be displayed and what , was available to customers without going beyond their hoane town. It aimed at publicity, and although in England the festivals were on a big scale, with decorations, bands, orches--tras and such Mr Brainsby suggested that Whangarei could well consider holding a festival. in the near future, and moved that itjbe a recommendation to the committee to consider the matter. Mr D. Tilly supported the proposal, and Mr L. T. Pickmere suggested that it should take place at the time of the Winter Show. It had been mooted last year that something of the kind should be arranged and that people might be given an opportunity to inspect stocks in shops without being expected to buy. It was a good idea, but it should aim to advertise the whole district and not only the shops of the town. Mr W. N. Jack said that the idea was right as an advertising medium but that it should be done rather at the beginning of a season than at showtime, and it would have to be taken up enthusiastically and not half-heartedly to ensure success. The motion that it be a recommendation to the committee to consider the advisability of promoting a shopping carnival was then put and carried.