Roll Up, Roll Up - to the Megastore Show! 7. October 2011 paul.bentham@robinsons-uk.com Miscellaneous (0) Something different and exciting is coming to the two Robinsons Megastores this October half-term. We’re pleased to announce the launch of our very first Megastore Show at both our Ashton and Basingstoke stores. We aim to bring the variety and interest of the showground indoors – and instore. That means a plethora of offers, demonstrations, competitions, special events and even some special guests! It all starts on Thursday 20th October when, in addition to welcoming all customers who come along that day, we’ll be extending a special invitation to equine professionals to take part in our ‘Horse Industry Day’. Any Equine Professionals (farriers, yard owners, riding school proprietors etc.) will be invited to the stores and offered a special discount and the chance to take advantage of free advertising on our instore sales boards for the duration of the event and beyond. For every weekday morning of the Megastore Show, we’ll be holding Coffee Mornings at Ashton and Basingstoke, giving you the chance to meet and chat with friends in a convivial atmosphere at the respective Nosebag Cafés at the two stores. Free refills of tea and coffee will be offered to all customers there between 10am and 12 noon that day and every other (except Saturdays and Sundays) until the Megastore Show ends. On Saturday 22nd October, we’re presenting a day of Canine Capers, with lots to see for all dog owners. At Ashton, we’re pleased to welcome Lynda Edmondson and Pidj to give a display of Heelwork to Music. Many people will have seen such routines popularised in recent years in shows such as ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, but the discipline has been used as an attraction at many dog shows and events such as Crufts, where Lynda has previously appeared. It’s also the day of our Saddle Clinic. We invote Ashton customers to speak to Zoe Sherlock, our specially-appointed, McTimoney-trained equine therapist and saddle-fitter. On Sunday 23rd October, the theme is Show Day, and we’ll be welcoming a pony into each store for you to meet – and get tips about preparing a pony for the showring. At Ashton, we’re pleased to welcome Jig (or Glangwnagringo, to use his show name). Jig is a 2011 catalogue model and recently-crowned NCPA Show Hunter Pony of the Year! On Friday 21st October, there’ll be a touch of showbiz at our Ashton Megastore as from 7:30pm, we’ll hold a specially-produced fashion show, highlighting items from the Autumn/Winter 2011 range and also giving a sneak preview of garments from the forthcoming 2012 Spring/Summer range. Customers at Basingstoke will also be able to audition as models and watch (or even take part in) the same fashion show at 7:30pm on Thursday 27th October. On Friday 28th October, both stores will hold a Kids’ Day and a Ladies’ Night, again centred around our instore Nosebag Cafés, in which entertainment and free refreshments will be provided. During the day, we’ll offer face-painting and a number of competitions and activities for younger riders. As in Ladies’ Days at the races, there will be a prize given for the ‘Best Turned Out’ ladies at both stores on that evening. At Basingstoke, the winner will receive a whole outfit, kindly donated by Sherwood Forest. At Ashton, the winner will also receive a whole outfit, kindly donated by Townend and presented by our special judge that night, Oliver Townend himself! The Megastore Show will conclude on Sunday 30th October, which will, of course be themed in the style of Hallowe’en. Don’t forget to put your clocks back that day and the look out for lots of free sweets (and some other treats besides) instore – and no tricks! Throughout the duration of the whole event, there’ll be a number of competitions with prizes to the value of over £5,000 to be won. Every day, there’ll be a daily competition at each Megastore and, over the whole Megastore Show, each store will hold ‘The Big One’, a prize draw in which you can win a number of prizes from a wide range of our chosen suppliers. In addition to these events, the Megastore Show will feature a wide variety of guests. Numerous suppliers will be on hand on different days to demonstrate their products. Local companies and service providers will also showcase their products and services. The GFS demonstrator horse will be at our Ashton store throughout the 11 days, available to help you choose your saddle - or just have a ride. Another mechanical horse, the BETA (British Equestrian Trade Association) demonstrator, named ‘RoboCob’ will be at Basingstoke for each of the 11 days. We’re also proud to welcome some very special guests at both our Megastores, for you to meet. At Basingstoke, we’re pleased to welcome the youngest-ever equestrian Olympian and China’s number one eventer, Alex Hua Tian (in conjunction with Farnam Grooming) on Wednesday 26th October as well as legendary British event rider Lucinda Green (in conjunction with Horseware) on Tuesday 25th October. With six wins at Badminton on six different horses, Lucinda is one of Britain’s most successful riders ever and remains one of the most respected equestrians you can find. At Ashton, we look forward to welcoming Nicola Wilson (in conjunction with Ariat) on Friday 28th October. Nicola is another leading event rider, and was a member of the bronze medal-winning GB team on her horse Opposition Buzz at the recent European Eventing Championships in Germany. Later that day, we’ll be proud to welcome the one and only Oliver Townend (in conjunction with Townend) to appear at the store again, amongst other things, to judge the winner of our ‘Best Turned Out’ award during ‘Ladies’ Night’. And then, at Ashton, on 22nd October, and at Basingstoke on 29th October, we have an extra special treat for you. We’re proud to announce that world-famous equestrian Monty Roberts will be our very special guest (in conjunction with Cavallo Horse Boots) together with Kelly Marks, the top-selling author and exponent of Intelligent Horsemanship. Kelly is one of Monty’s most trusted allies and a noted equine behavouralist in her own right with a number of books and lecture demonstration tours to her name. As one of the world’s most famous horsemen, Monty needs no introduction and his techniques have been studied by riders around the world. Put simply, this is your chance to meet one of the greatest horsemen of all time together with the British rider he admires more than any other. The Megastore Show is designed to bring the excitement and variety of the County Show instore and to add to that flavour, we’re inviting a number of local businesses to use the event to showcase their goods and services. Finally, we’ve decided to nominate a charity to support during the process of this instore event and, given the time of year, it could only be the BBC’s Children in Need appeal. That means you’ll be seeing a lot of Pudsey Bear at all our stores and online throughout the duration of the Megastore Show. In addition to collecting tins at each store, we’ll be selling tickets to attend our fashion shows for £1 each – with all the proceeds donated to Children in Need. We hope to see you at our two Megastores in October – and we apologise to our customers in Cannock and Cardiff that those two stores are simply not big enough to hold all the attractions we have planned. If they were, we’d certainly have extended the event there as well. We will of course match any product offers at all stores and we’ll ensure that there will be plenty of reasons to go along to those two stores during the October half-term. Details are being added all the time, so keep checking this blog or our special microsite for the event, http://www.robinsonsequestrian.com/show2011 Tweet