Newberry Main Street Touts Shop Local Campaign

NEWBERRY ‒ While online purchases are surging in the face of COVID-19, shopping local is at the top of mind for Newberry Main Street Organization (NMSO) Executive Director Janiece Smith. Smith announced a “Shop Small Shop Local” Campaign during the Nov. 23 Newberry City Commission meeting. The event is being sponsored by their organization and Main Street businesses and runs from Nov. 28 – Dec. 12.

“NMSO has been designated as a National Neighborhood Champion (NNC) for the year 2020,” said Smith. “As such we have an opportunity to play an important role this holiday season by highlighting NMSO businesses in the community.”

Participating businesses can expect to receive free materials from the Shop Small campaign to distribute to their customers and to use in their business. In return each business will provide a gift certificate, holiday gift basket or voucher for services valued at $25 or above as a drawing prize. Prizes must be submitted to the NMSO chairperson by Saturday, Dec. 5.

This program is a great way to promote and support local businesses and to encourage Newberry’s citizens to Shop Small.

Shoppers could win one of those gift items from a participating business. All shoppers are encouraged to save their shopping receipts. When the receipts show $200 in purchases, shoppers are to take a picture of their receipts and text the photos to 352-949-6757 along with the shopper’s name and contact information. Smith stressed that those shoppers texting their photos should be considerate of the time when calling or texting the number. However, all texts must be received by the chairperson for validation by 10 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 12.

“Winners will be notified if they qualify by noon, Dec. 13,” said Smith. “Their name will then go into a drawing for one of the prizes.”

The drawing will take place at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 14, at Berry Park (Farmers Market location). Winners must be present to claim their prize.

NMSO plans to promote Shop Small Shop Local on their website and Facebook pages, through the three Newberry schools and through flyers in local participating businesses. The list of currently participating businesses is on NMSO’s web page.

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