Paisley Piazza Shopping Centre

Spirit of Fairtrade Award

The winners of the Provost’s Community Awards were announced at a glittering ceremony on February 19th - including the Piazza's Spirit of Fairtrade Award, which went to Trinity High School, Renfrew.

The awards celebrate those people in the community who have made special achievements and gone out of their way to make a difference to the lives of others.

Renfrewshire's Provost Celia Lawson revealed the winners and presented the awards with the help of another local hero, STV weatherman Sean Batty.

Each of the nominees, their families and the people who nominated them were invited to the ceremony.
Winners received return flights and two nights accommodation for two people in London with £200 spending money, and a £500 donation for the charity of their choice.

The winners of the 2010 Provost's Community Awards are:

Congratulations to all of the winners!

 

Piazza Helps Paint Paisley Pink

Evelyn is determined to raise as much money – and awareness of the disease – as possible. She said:
 
“My cousin had breast cancer and unfortunately we lost her, so it’s something close to my heart and I wanted to do something good to get everybody involved in - we can raise a lot of money and do something good for the community.”

Staff from the Card Factory, Happit, Bonmarche and Peacocks, and a host of other retailers, all took part in the day - and Centre Manager Maureen Hill donated £100 to the cause on behalf of The Piazza.

The total amount raised by Evelyn on the day was over £6,000 - watch this space for more updates...

Tomato Bath Challenge

On Friday March 13^th, Piazza Security Officer Peter Edgar did “something funny for money” and took a bath in chopped tomatoes to raise £650 in aid of Comic Relief.

Generous buddies dug deep to help Comic Relief raise money for vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the UK and Africa, and to tip a tin of tomatoes into the bath, of course!

Peter said:
"We wanted to do something different for Comic Relief and somehow I ended up volunteering - I can safely say this is the strangest thing I've ever had to do in my job!"

Elvis and Tina Turner were also on hand to collect donations throughout the day, and Card Warehouse staff all donated £1 to wear red for the day.  B&Q Paisley kindly donated Peter's bath, and Somerfield took part in the charity challenge by donating 400 tins of chopped tomatoes.

www.myrednoseday.com/piazzapaisley 



A Piazza Shopper tips in the first tin!



Counsellor Brian Lawson and Centre Manager Maureen Hill get in on the action.

Piazza Team are Off their Trolley!

Taking part in the Trolley Dash were several local businesses: as well as The Piazza, racing for the title were Ladbrokes, Somerfield, St Mirren Brae Dental Practice, and a team from the Old Swan. After a nail biting turn, The Piazza Team took the lead and finished first to scoop the coveted trophy!

The Trolley Dash itself raised over £1000 for the charity, with donations still rolling in and being tallied up: watch this space for the grand total!

Student Discounts on Allsorts!

As Paisley’s student population get into gear for the coming term, The Piazza Shopping Centre is set to help them make the most of their money with this year’s new look Student Discount Card.

The new look card made its first appearance this month at Reid Kerr College’s Fresher’s Fayre, where bags of licorice allsorts were snapped up almost as quickly as the cards!

Kenny McGlynn, Student President at Reid Kerr College, commented:
"The Piazza discount card is a great offer for students, and I'd like to thank the shops at the Centre for grouping together to come up with such wonderful offers. This shows great consideration for Paisley's large student community."

Piazza Centre Manager, Maureen Hill, said:

“We’re delighted to launch the Piazza Student Card for the third year in the row. Although all of our stores pride themselves on offering great value all year round, it’s fantastic to be able to offer Paisley’s student population with a variety of offers and discounts from a number of our retailers to help make their money go further while they’re studying.”

Discounts are available in D2. Ethel Austin, New Look, O'Neills, Peacocks, Shoezone, Stead and Simpson, Subway and The Works. 

Paint Paisley Pink

Evelyn is determined to raise as much money – and awareness of the disease – as possible. She said:
 
“My cousin had breast cancer and unfortunately we lost her, so it’s something close to my heart and I wanted to do something good to get everybody involved in - we can raise a lot of money and do something good for the community.”

This year's event takes place on Friday October 23rd - watch this space for more information!

Family Fun as Santa Arrives

Santa was joined on his sleigh by Daniele Stobo, age 7, of West Primary School – who was also his first guest at his grotto, and the lucky child who got to switch on the Paisley Christmas lights! As well as his special guest, Santa was joined by Scottish Rockettes Cheerleaders, PACE Youth Theatre, Paisley Pipe Band, Lorna Welsh School of Dance, Strathclyde Fire Engine Preservation Society, the Greyhound Awareness League, Mischief La Bas and characters from the Wizard of Oz!

The crowds went wild as the parade returned to The Piazza and Santa entered his Grotto, with over 200 children visiting him on the day. This year, all donations made to the Grotto will go to the Mary Russell School, Paisley, and the Clippens School, Linwood.

Paisley’s only Santa’s Grotto is open right up until Christmas Eve for young buddies to make sure that Santa knows what they’d like to find under their tree this year – and The Piazza will also be opening later every Thursday in December to help Mums and Dads make the most of their time! Free parking is also available at The Piazza every weekend up throughout the festive season.

Happit Closure

Digging Deep for Local Schools

The Piazza Shopping Centre has presented the Clippens School, Linwood, and Mary Russell School, Paisley, cheques for £500 each thanks to generous buddies who made donations to the centre’s Christmas Display at Santa’s Wizard of Oz Grotto throughout the festive season.

Clippens School has 63 pupils, who also attend the school from Primary right through to Secondary: the £500 donation will go towards purchasing of materials to complement the School’s new outdoor learning area, which the pupils enjoy both as an outdoor classroom, and a sensory garden area.

Isabell Gibb, Headteacher at Clippens, said:

“We’re delighted with the money that Piazza shoppers have raised and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who made a donation for their generosity and support.”

 

 

Maureen Hill meets Mary Russell Head Teacher Jane Dorby, and Student Council Members Kerris Craig, Edward Garry, Connor Boyle and Mark McKirdy.



Maureen Hill is photographed with Clippens Headteacher Isabell Gibb and pupils Olivia Turner, Sheree O’Rourke and Scott McKinnon.

Piazza Gears up for Big Swap

Piazza Mini Zoo makes Big Splash

The ever popular Piazza Petting Zoo returned to the Mall on Saturday 3^rd April.

As well as being able to get up close to all kinds of animals, free Face Painting was also on offer during the day, and shoppers had the chance to enter our Easter Competition in conjunction with the Watermill Hotel, to win a slap up family meal for six at the Watermill's Hammills Restaurant.

Below, Left - Right: The Tait Family enjoy having their faces painted, Suzanne Kelly, 7, with Tizer the Snake, and Aryn Grier, 3, meets a baby guinea pig.

  

 
Above: Kate Young with Banana Iguana, Aylie Campbell, 2, meets some Geckos!
Below: Danielle Agnew, Charlie McMinn, 2, and Stacey McMinn have their faces painted, and Bethany Docherty, 6, meets Banana Iguana.
   
    
Above: Amy with Michelle the Tortoise, Natasha, 4, has her face painted, and Molly meets Charlie Cockerel.

Celebrating 25 Years at the Piazza

Congratulations to Jean McArthur, Assistant Manager at The Piazza’s Bonmarche store, as she celebrated her 25^th year of working within the shopping centre in March – making her the Mall’s longest serving team member!

Jean started working in What Everyone Wants in 1985, before transferring to Bewise Department Store 18 years later, then joining the team at Bonmarche’s Piazza Store in 2004.

Maureen Hill, Piazza Centre Manager, presented Jean with a bouquet of flowers and bottle of champagne to congratulate her on the anniversary. Maureen commented:

“We’re delighted that Jean is celebrating her quarter-century at The Piazza - Jean has always been a popular figure in the Mall, and she and the team at Bonmarche are always happy to be involved in all of The Piazza’s charity and community initiatives, in addition to their own events for Macmillan Cancer Support and SANDS over the last few years.”

Jean said:

 “I can’t believe it’s been so long! It’s been lovely to see so many familiar faces over the years, and I’ve really gotten to know so many of our regular customers. I’d like to thank every one of them for their custom, kindness, support and stories over the years, and here’s to many more – retirement’s a long way off yet!”



Jean is pictured with Maureen Hill, Piazza Manager, and the team from Bonmarche.

Officers Club Opens at The Piazza

Fashion favourites The Officers Club now open in the Piazza, catering for fashion savvy males who are looking for the latest trends at great prices! The store's three main brands, Petroleum 68, Petroleum 79 and Ultra Magnetic, will offer a great range of urban basics as well as great high fashion pieces.

Find more information on the store at www.theofficersclub.co.uk

Below: Piazza Manager Maureen Hill, Renfrewshire Council Leader Derek Mackay and Officers Club Area Manager Brian Rice at the official opening of the store.