Holiday Shopping Passport returns
130 businesses taking part this year; free parking starts on Black Friday
The Holiday Shopping Passport program is back with a new look, more chances to win, bigger prizes and more businesses taking part, Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area’s officials announced Monday.
This year’s 130 participating business is up from the more than 100 of last year, a sign the incentive is growing, said DBIA executive director Terry Guiel, who pointed out that shoppers stamped $1.5 million worth of passports last year, tripling the $500,000 of prior years.
“There are a lot of people who really look forward to this time of year,” he said after a morning launch at Meta4 Gallery on Hunter Street, one of several news businesses taking part. “It’s such a fun and unique program.”
The holiday shopping passport – which was physically redesigned for this year – rewards shoppers for shopping and dining downtown.
Just like in previous years, a box is stamped on the passport anytime bearers spend $10 or more at a participating business. When the passport is full and its form is filled out, it can be dropped off at a ballot box at any of the same businesses.
There will once again be three early bird prizes of $500 in “downtown money” to be drawn Dec. 6, 13 and 20, organizers said.
However, new this year is a larger grand prize of $1,500 in downtown money which will be drawn Jan. 10, when runners-up prizes of gift cards from various downtown businesses will also be drawn, organizers said.
Also new this year is a free stamp if you drop by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism office in the Venture North building at 270 George St. N. There is a limit of one stamp per person, organizers said.
Guiel expects sales to continue to grow this year because of the number of new businesses that have opened and the additional locations taking part. That level of participation is something to be really proud of, he pointed out.
“It really shows buy-in,” he said.
The DBIA is aware of the difficult marketplace, so officials are always looking for new, unique ways to drawn shoppers to the downtown.
“This is a real fun and positive way to do that,” Guiel said, adding how one of the joys of the holiday season is being able to walk from store to store and how the holiday passport program really adds to that of seasonal excitement.
Guiel encouraged shoppers to bring their passports to more than 100 downtown businesses who will be offering sales as part of Black Friday on Nov. 24.
Visit www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com for the full list of participating passport locations.
NOTES: Two hours free street parking starts Black Friday (Nov. 24) and runs to the end of December courtesy of the city’s parking division .... The DBIA window judging contest will also be judged by Big Brothers Big Sisters representatives on Dec. 2