1 Blogger, 40 Brands, Over 500 People Helped This Christmas - A Look At My #ShareThisChristmas Campaign!
Guyyyyyyyyyyyyys! I've been working on a project that I set up around six weeks ago which I called the #ShareThisChristmas campaign, it was an idea that I had one day sat at my desk, then it turned into so, so much more than I ever thought it would! Let me explain...
The idea...
An idea sparked one day when I was shooting my Christmas gift guides as I'd been sent so many products and I wanted to put them to good use. I usually give any excess products to friends/family or sell them in an at-home beauty sale. But this year I had so much I thought, wait, I could do so much more with this stock, but then the idea grew bigger.
I saw down with my friends and family and pitched the idea to them that I wanted to donate my gifts to some selected charities and shelters, but what if I could get some brands involved too and turn it into something bigger? We came to the conclusion that it was worth a shot, so come Monday morning I sent out 70+ emails to brands that I've built relationships with over the last four years.
The response I had was utterly, and totally overwhelming, I thought that maybe brands would send a couple of items each but then the boxes started arriving, my poor neighbours were close to disowning me and our house was slowly starting to look like Santa's grotto! I wasn't sure what I was expecting but products where arriving by the box load, brands were saying what a lovely idea it was and how they couldn't wait to get involved.
The initial centres I wanted to help were my 3 local women's refuges in Southend, Basildon and Chelmsford and also my local Age UK centre (after watching the advert on Facebook I couldn't not helped as it killed me that people were on their own at this time of year!). With the amount of products that were sent I was able to distribute 3 sacks of presents to the women's shelters each, one for the girls, one for boys and one for the women. I was also able to donate a big box of perfume, makeup, jewellery and products for teenagers as well as a big box of toiletries for the mums.
In addition to that I had two large sacks and two big boxes for my Age UK centre packed full of coats, scarves, gloves, hats etc which are perfect to keep them warm this winter. At first I really struggled getting samples for children as I don't have any kids so I've never built a relationship with any brands, but then things took a turn for the best and I arrived back from Spain with tonnes of products for children and teenagers.
I made a phone call to my local Little Havens and informed them that I'd love to make a donation and they were so overwhelmed with the help, they also said soaps and any body products are great as they can put them in the rooms for the families staying there. I managed to put together four sacks of products and two large boxes of toiletries for the rooms.
I contacted Your Print Partner in the early stages of setting up this project as I'd seen some amazing Reindeer present sacks on their website, as this campaign was all charity based I couldn't afford to purchase 15/20 sacks for the campaign so I was so, so grateful when the lovely guys at Your Print Partner sent some sacks for me to bag up the presents!
When I set out this project six weeks ago, I never in a million years imagined that it could turn into what it did. I as one person, with the help of around 40 brands, managed to help just over 500 people this Christmas, and to me, it was the best Christmas present I could have ever asked for!
The products...
As I mentioned, over 40 brands and PR companies got involved with this project which was so, so incredible! I have popped a full list of everyone involved at the bottom of this post, but would like to say a special thank you to; Claire's, Mothercare, Monsoon, JWPR, M&Co, Heads Group, Fragrance Direct and M&S for the overwhelming support and products you all offered, I really can't tell you how much it means to me!
The packaging...
A closer look at the amazing present sacks sent by Your Print Partner...
The distribution...
I managed to get a couple of pictures of the products I dropped off to my local Little Havens and also the Age UK centre, I wasn't able to take any picture in the women's refuges for security reasons...
The thank you's...
Again, just a massive, massive thank you to every brand that took part in my #ShareThisChristmas campaign, your support meant the world to me and I'm hoping that next year I can turn the project into something bigger and better with the support of more brands and fellow bloggers!
The idea around this idea was to share at Christmas time, and especially to be able to help those less fortunate, I know that products are in material and they aren't going to change someone's life but I wanted to let them know that I, along with everyone else are thinking of them this Christmas (and all year round, but as Christmas is a time of family and giving, it was important for me to reach out and help where I could!). If you have any unwanted gifts this Christmas, maybe spare a thought at how you could #ShareThisChristmas with someone less fortunate than yourself.
So, that's my #ShareThisChristmas campaign in a nutshell, the idea stemmed from the fact that I've always loved giving Christmas presents more than receiving them, I was so, so incredibly proud that I've been able to share Christmas with over 500 people this Christmas! I hope that next year I can tun this into something bigger and reach out to more shelters but this right here, was the best gift I could ever have this Christmas!
Thank you to everyone who supported me and took part in making this campaign possible!Love Hayley xo
