Minto’s Chamber of Commerce is working to spread Christmas cheer and the message of shopping locally.
Councillors here recently were brought up to date on plans by the local chamber. Originally a presentation was to be made by chamber vice-president Glen Hall. Instead, it was given by recording secretary Kelli Hill.
She said first and foremost the chamber invites all council to the annual come-and-go Christmas social at the Harriston Legion on Dec. 1. Last year, the group held a draw for a shopping spree. This year however, she said there will also be the early bird draws for gift certificates.
She said there are many different items to give away, so organizers are expecting a larger crowd.
“Businesses will be coming to see and there will be lots of opportunity for networking,” Hill said. “This year the chamber has been taking more of a focus on shopping locally.”
She said work has been to “really pump up” shopping locally and getting retailers involved.
“A coupon book was initiated, as well as shopping locally posters.”
She also mentioned a window display program.
And Hill said the chamber wraps up the year with the shopping spree – which was hugely successful last year.
“It’s even bigger this year,” Hill said.
Retailers have attended the meetings and offered ideas on ways to improve the event. Ballots can be filled out at local stores, providing a means of tracking customers, when the winners are announced as well as the number of shoppers attracted to a store.
“She said people may go to the various stores to get more chances to enter.”
Participating stores will have posters on their windows. Hill considers it a win. Retailers feel more part of it, the chamber is getting more visitors to the website “and hopefully it will be hugely successful again."
