ROC launches Christmas Gift Guide to inspire people to shop on the high street

Seeking to drive spend back on to the local high street this Christmas, The Jersey App ROC has launched an innovative Christmas Gift Guide curating the best festive experiences on the island.

With over 400 Festive activities and events listed and 3,000 businesses listed, ROC is directing spend back into the local economy with their app by making Christmas gifting accessible from a mobile phone, from the comfort of home or on the go. The app makes it easy for consumers to prepare for Christmas, anytime, anywhere, whilst supporting local businesses.

ROC was founded by digital entrepreneur Colm Farrington, winner of Digital Jersey’s 2024 Startup Bootcamp.  Free to both businesses and users, the app endeavours to help islanders and visitors alike to unlock their downtime, and help get the most out of what Jersey has to offer.

Rather than jumping between various sites and apps, ROC enables islanders and visitors to discover, seek and compare experiences as a ‘one stop shop’. Since launching in August, ROC has reached nearly 64,000 islanders and is the island’s largest event listing website. From Christmas Markets to Santa’s Grotto and dining out to music and theatre, there is something for everyone.

Colm Farrington, Founder of ROC, said:

“Following the successful launch of ROC, we recognised an opportunity to consolidate all of Jersey’s festive experiences in one place. We’ve had great feedback from the island community. It gives people the best of both worlds – preparing for Christmas at their convenience, while putting money back into the local economy. There’s some amazing activities and events put on in Jersey and we want to celebrate all that there is to see and do.”

Damian Warman, General Manager, Jersey War Tunnels, commented:

“Collaborating with innovative digital businesses like ROC is essential to the continued success of Jersey War Tunnels. In 2024, we’ve seen a strong increase in visitor numbers compared to the previous year, with many new and returning guests. A particularly exciting development is the re-engagement from local residents with our Café, Shop and the Tunnels. Digital platforms like ROC are crucial in connecting with both local and visiting audiences, ensuring our relevance in a digital age. Partnering with a local business that amplifies our global reach is a truly exciting opportunity.”

Shaun Crowther, Managing Director of Coop Bikes, added:

“We’ve been delighted to be part of ROC’s journey from the start. The latest Christmas Gift Guide provides an effective way to shine light on our business and share the very latest products. Christmas is a key sales period and critical for us to encourage islanders to support local businesses. We’ve seen a large increase in referrals from ROC which stands testament to the positive user experience of the ROC interface. It’s great to see more business joining daily.”