Keeping shoppers close to home

By Meg Olson

“We’re trying to get people to a shop in Blaine – keep their dollars in town,” said chamber president Pam Christianson. The Blaine chamber of commerce is signing up local businesses for a winter shopathon program that rewards regular shoppers by raffling off a $100 U.S. savings bond every month.

Once the program gets rolling later this month, shoppers will get a stamp each time they spend $10 at a participating business. If they collect ten stamps from different businesses, shoppers are entered in the savings bond draw.

“We’re trying for a six-month trial run,” Christianson said. Each month a different local business will donate the $100 savings bond and Christianson said they already have the first four months lined up, starting with a donation from U.S. Bank.

Chamber members are automatically enrolled in the program for free but Christianson said they are trying to sign up other businesses as well. Businesses that don’t belong to the chamber can participate for $15 and Christianson said she’s been beating the bushes to sign them up. “We don’t want to ignore anybody and we want it to be big,” she said. “If a business hasn’t been approached and wants to participate, call me.”

Nineteen businesses are on the list so far and Christianson is aiming for 30 or more. “We’re hoping to add some new chamber members too,” she said. Chamber memberships start at $50 a year and Christianson has already signed up two new members peddling the shopping program.

Christianson hopes to wrap up the enrollment this week so the program can get underway after the next chamber luncheon November 6. “We’re aiming to have the first drawing coincide with the city’s Christmas lighting ceremony,” she said.

Businesses interested in the program can reach Christianson at 332-5335.

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