Merchants' Reindeer Run promotes shopping locally
NORWICH – As American Express steadily campaigned this year to promote Small Business Saturday, the Norwich Merchants Association has been busy making its own preparations for the holiday shopping season and collaborating efforts to entice consumers to the city.
The Norwich Merchants Association is actively promoting its local shopping incentive campaign called Reindeer Run. Small city businesses hope to keep customers spending money in the area, benefiting area businesses while also helping the local economy.
According to Anna McLaughlin of McLaughlin’s Department Store, the NMA is making local retail a priority.
“It goes back to local businesses,” she said. “We’re all community people; if one neighbor does well, we all do well.”
Association member Linda McNeil of McNeil Jewelers explained that Reindeer Run is a simple concept. Consumers get a game board from a participating Norwich business and when they shop at any of the 23 participating stores until Dec. 31, retailers will provide stickers to place on the game board. Purchases of $5-$25 collect one sticker; $26-$50 collect two stickers, $51-$75 get three. A sticker will be added for every $25 increment. When the game card is filled, consumers submit their cards to McLaughlin’s Dept. Store, The Parson’s Daughter or McNeil Jewelers to be eligible for a drawing for prizes and gift certificates.
“It’s something that’s catching on more and more every year,” McNeil said.”
“There are a lot of people who look forward to this,” added Geri Barnes, owner of the Cafe Connection. “One of our goals is to integrate local businesses into the community ... and we are excited that this takes place in a time where a lot of family members come home for the holidays.”
This is the third year the Norwich Merchants Association has sponsored Reindeer Run. As a program that operates under the Norwich Business Improvement District, all 63 members of the association strongly emphasizes their camaraderie and personal connection with the community. Moreover, they encourage area consumers to shop locally for the experience of personalized service and positive references to other local merchants.
“Once customers come in and see these business, they will wonder why they haven’t done so before,” said Dinnett Moore, owner of a Touch of Moore Massage Therapy.
This is the first year that the Merchants Association has operated with a marketing committee. More ideas are in the works for next year, said McLaughlin, but this year, the organization is primarily committed to Reindeer Run and bettering the local small business shopping experience.
The Norwich Merchants Association is actively promoting its local shopping incentive campaign called Reindeer Run. Small city businesses hope to keep customers spending money in the area, benefiting area businesses while also helping the local economy.
According to Anna McLaughlin of McLaughlin’s Department Store, the NMA is making local retail a priority.
“It goes back to local businesses,” she said. “We’re all community people; if one neighbor does well, we all do well.”
Association member Linda McNeil of McNeil Jewelers explained that Reindeer Run is a simple concept. Consumers get a game board from a participating Norwich business and when they shop at any of the 23 participating stores until Dec. 31, retailers will provide stickers to place on the game board. Purchases of $5-$25 collect one sticker; $26-$50 collect two stickers, $51-$75 get three. A sticker will be added for every $25 increment. When the game card is filled, consumers submit their cards to McLaughlin’s Dept. Store, The Parson’s Daughter or McNeil Jewelers to be eligible for a drawing for prizes and gift certificates.
“It’s something that’s catching on more and more every year,” McNeil said.”
“There are a lot of people who look forward to this,” added Geri Barnes, owner of the Cafe Connection. “One of our goals is to integrate local businesses into the community ... and we are excited that this takes place in a time where a lot of family members come home for the holidays.”
This is the third year the Norwich Merchants Association has sponsored Reindeer Run. As a program that operates under the Norwich Business Improvement District, all 63 members of the association strongly emphasizes their camaraderie and personal connection with the community. Moreover, they encourage area consumers to shop locally for the experience of personalized service and positive references to other local merchants.
“Once customers come in and see these business, they will wonder why they haven’t done so before,” said Dinnett Moore, owner of a Touch of Moore Massage Therapy.
This is the first year that the Merchants Association has operated with a marketing committee. More ideas are in the works for next year, said McLaughlin, but this year, the organization is primarily committed to Reindeer Run and bettering the local small business shopping experience.
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