On 11 October 2013, Vicky Angear, reporter for the Western Mercury wrote:
"A COMPETITION which gave entrepreneurs a chance to win a shop in Nailsea free for a year has breathed new life into the town centre.
Mark Robinson from Ellandi, the landlord of Crown Glass Shopping Centre, tweeted that the competition was a huge success and has led to more empty units being filled.
He tweeted ‘#winashop really has helped kick-start interest in #Nailsea. We’ll be practically fully let by Christmas.’
Judges of the win a shop competition were so impressed by the finalists that two businesses were announced as winners of the coveted prize last month.
Fran Hunt will be taking over 15 Colliers Walk with her Partysmartys business, which sells supplies for a wide range of occasions including stocking fillers, party bags, wedding favours and fancy dress.
And Emily Rickard will be opening Ewe-Knit 20 at 20 Colliers Walk to sell materials for hand and machine knitting, clothing, accessories and to run knitting classes.
The competition, which was worth £25,000, attracted more than 30 entries.
MP Liam Fox visited the winners of the contest at the weekend to discuss their plans for the new stores.
He said: 'It’s wonderful that this competition has created such local interest and provided two fantastic winners.
'All we have to do now is transform the enthusiasm into business and everyone is a winner.'
Fran Hunt of Partysmartys plans to open the doors at 15 Colliers Walk within the first two weeks of October.
Meanwhile, Emily Rickard will open the Ewe-Knit 20 shop soon afterwards, to provide machine knitting classes, materials for creative and hobbyist knitwear, and her own range of knitted clothing and accessories.
A new travel agent and Occasions card and gift shop will also soon be opening in the town."