Holiday Passport returns, bigger than ever
Sales generated by downtown store program have grown from $300,000 to $1.9 million
One of the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area’s (DBIA) most popular programs has returned with a chance to win as much as $3,000 in downtown money from a record 140 participating stores, officials announced Monday.
The Holiday Shopping Passport generated about $300,000 in sales when the long-running program was rebranded about five years ago, DBIA executive director Terry Guiel said during a launch at Wild Rock Outfitters on Charlotte Street.
The fast-growing stamp-collecting program generated an estimated $1.9 million last year, he said.
“It tells us we have something very successful … it also tells us more and more people are shopping downtown,” Guiel said.
This year’s program has the most diverse list of participants to date, with the Peterborough Public Library, Showplace Performance Centre and Market
Hall added. Lift Lock Escape is another new family entertainment addition.
Shoppers can also once again get stamps when they drop by the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism office in the Venture North building at 270 George St. N.
A box on the passport can be stamped any time bearers spend $10 or more at participating businesses. When the passport is full and its form is filled out (20 stamps), it can be dropped off at a ballot box at any of the same businesses.
The passports feature three early bird prizes of $500 in downtown money to be drawn Dec. 5, 12 and 19 with the grand prize of $1,500 in downtown money to be drawn Jan. 9.
The program, which is frequently the subject of questions from BIAs in other cities, provides a great incentive, Guiel said. “People love to be rewarded for their shopping.”
Officials also encouraged shoppers to bring their passport downtown Nov. 23 for Black Friday as businesses host some of the biggest sales of the year.
NOTES: The BIA’s annual two hours’ free parking promotion begins Black Friday and runs until the end of December, thanks to the city’s parking division.… For a full list of Holiday Shopping Passport participants and locations, visit http://downtownptbo.ca/ .