Potsdam chamber working to give boost to holiday promotions
Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 5:14pm
POTSDAM --The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce is working to make this year’s December promotions bigger and better than in past years, according to Executive Director Brenda Thornton.
This year’s event will kick off Dec. 4 and continue through Dec. 6. The weekend has been dubbed “Warm-up to Winter Weekend,” and the chamber hopes that businesses will integrate the theme in their store decorations and advertising campaigns. “Imagine a fireplace, hot chocolate, mulled wine and cider, cookies baking in the oven, all warm and welcoming sights and sounds,” Thornton said. “This is what we want Potsdam to be to our neighbors this holiday season.
“We understand that the economy is still relatively weak and that our neighbors do not necessarily have a large budget for holiday shopping, entertaining and dining,” Thornton said. “As a community, I strongly believe that we have everything here that a person would need to complete their holiday ‘to-do list.’ We would like to broaden our advertising reach for the weekend to include our neighbors in the Adirondack foothills, in the southwestern portion of the county, and include Tupper and Saranac Lake.”
Thornton explained the reaching out to some farther-away communities is a practical one. “Many of these communities have experienced a loss of available shopping and are driving as much as an hour or more to shop for everyday basics. We feel that if we can show them all that Potsdam has to offer, they will make Potsdam their destination for gifts, groceries, and necessities.”
Thornton noted that an extra incentive to shop in Potsdam that weekend is the awarding of a $250 shopping spree to one lucky shopper.
Other things the chamber is considering for the weekend are music, a story hour with Santa, games and other children’s events, and product demonstrations. The chamber is also considering is asking businesses to look at Sunday shopping hours all through December. They are welcoming other ideas.
The chamber also plans to run a third annual Holiday Window Display contest, judging the businesses’ windows on Friday, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. The winner receives a framed certificate for their business to display throughout the year. Those who would like to participate can contact the office at 274-9000 or Potsdam@slic.com. Deadline is Nov. 13.
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