The Big Red Bag Competition: How Our Team Brings Creativity to Community Engagement
At Big Red, we firmly believe that a happy, creative team translates directly into exceptional customer service and meaningful community engagement. One of our most memorable initiatives that perfectly demonstrates this philosophy was our famous ‘Big Red Bag’ competition – an internal team challenge that sparked incredible creativity, forged stronger bonds amongst our staff, and ultimately enhanced how we connect with our community.
The Challenge That Captured Imaginations
What started as a simple idea quickly blossomed into something extraordinary. We challenged our team of 33 to capture creative photos featuring our iconic ‘Big Red Bags’ – with the best photos winning a cash prize. Little did we know just how far our team would go (quite literally!) to showcase their creativity and team spirit.
The response was nothing short of spectacular. Our distinctive black and red bags travelled to landmarks across the globe, attended a wedding, posed with the Red Arrows, and were even transformed into fashionable outfits! The enthusiasm and effort that went into each entry demonstrated just how invested our team is in the Big Red brand and culture.
From London to San Francisco
The competition quickly took on a life of its own as our bags began appearing in photos from all corners of the world. Chris and George proudly displayed their Big Red Bag in London, while other team members took their bags all the way to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and even the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco!
Back home, the creativity was just as impressive. Wayne incorporated his Big Red Bag into his wedding day celebrations – now that’s dedication! Meanwhile, Tracey, Amy and Dawn took things to another level by crafting ‘Big Red’ dresses, transforming our humble shopping bags into fashionable attire. Caroline even managed to get a photo with our local PC, and another colleague captured a spectacular shot with the Red Arrows display team.
When Everyone’s a Winner
As the entries flooded in, we found ourselves facing a delightful dilemma – how could we possibly choose just one winner? The standard was extraordinarily high, and each entry showcased unique creativity and genuine enthusiasm. In the end, the only fair solution was to select five winners, each receiving a prize of £100.
But the real value of the competition went far beyond the cash prizes. The shared experience created countless moments of laughter, friendly competition, and team bonding and that sense of fun and camaraderie continues to infuse our workplace culture.
More Than Just a Competition
What made the Big Red Bag competition so special was how it seamlessly blended team building with brand awareness and community engagement. Those eye-catching black and red bags popping up in unexpected places sparked conversations, turned heads, and reinforced our presence in the community and beyond.
The competition also revealed something important about our team – their willingness to go above and beyond, to think creatively, and to bring enthusiasm to everything they do. These are precisely the qualities that make them exceptional at serving our customers and engaging with our community every day.
From Internal Engagement to Community Connection
The spirit of creativity and enthusiasm fostered by initiatives like the Big Red Bag competition directly enhances how we connect with our community. A team that feels valued, inspired, and united is naturally better equipped to deliver outstanding customer service and to represent Big Red with pride in our community outreach efforts.
Whether it’s our Big Red Bear mascot visiting local schools, our team participating in charity fundraising events, or our involvement with local sports teams, that same creativity and passion shines through. By nurturing these qualities within our team, we’re able to build stronger, more meaningful connections with the community we’re so proud to serve.
The Big Red Bag may be just a shopping bag to some, but for us, it represents something much more significant – the creativity, dedication, and community spirit that makes Big Red so much more than just a store.
