BOSSES at Merry Hill have been doing their bit to spread positivity with activities and tips from retailers to help shoppers beat the winter blues.

The mall has transformed its LED wall, by the front entrance, into a Wall of Wisdom which invites people in the community to share words and messages of inspiration to give everyone a lift.

From mottos to personal mantras and inspirational quotes, hundreds of suggestions have been made on social media – with a select few chosen for display on the outside wall of the centre.

Merry Hill’s fitness guru, Coach Harry, at Fitness Studio 46 on The Waterfront, has shared tips for reaching health and fitness goals.

He suggests focusing on getting enough sleep, minding those high calorie drinks and moving around more – whether that’s taking a lunch-time walk, taking the stairs or getting off the bus a stop early to get 10,000 steps in.

Harry also recommends planning a healthy well-balanced diet by reading biographies and cookbooks and boosting confidence by picking out a new fitness outfit.

Meanwhile, independent restaurant Indian Tavern has been serving up a range of vegan and vegetarian dishes throughout Veganuary - guaranteed to spice up the winter months.

Merry Hill has also been encouraging sustainable shopping - asking customers to bring their own shopping bag, recycle unwanted clothes while at the mall and making simple swaps to buy more eco-friendly items with less or no plastic packaging.

Jonathan Poole, centre manager at Merry Hill, said: “Lots of people really struggle around this time of the year. So, we’ve made it our mission to give visitors and the local community a boost – and couldn’t think of a better way to spread a bit of positivity than lighting up Merry Hill with some uplifting and inspirational messages from locals themselves.

“We’ve also got a host of tips and tricks to beat the blues and a few smart ways to shop more sustainably when visiting Merry Hill, as well as lots of exciting interactive events in the pipeline to keep the kids entertained over the February half term and throughout the year.”