The chamber kicked off its first-ever Give, Get, Grow campaign on Aug. 17. The campaign was an effort to stimulate cash flow into local Stutsman County businesses.
"This campaign came from conversations between JSDC (Jamestown/Stutsman County Development Corp.) and the chamber - us wanting to do something for our local businesses as far as helping them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic," said Emily Bivens, executive director, Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce. "We set our initial goal at $25,000 thinking it would be a hard number to hit but we exceeded it and it was awesome - it was amazing."
During the “Give” portion of the campaign, donations were accepted and added to the matching funds. Local businesses like Otter Tail Power Co., R.M. Stoudt and Bank Forward donated to the campaign. The matching pool totaled $30,300. After donations were made by campaign partners, community members could purchase gift cards to local businesses. The purchases were matched as long as the matching funds lasted.
The entire matching pool was used within the first four hours of the campaign.
"It was just an incredible response," Bivens said. "It took a lot from the matching pool donations, we had all of the consumers show up on the 17th (of August) and we had a bunch of volunteers behind the scenes kind of helping us make everything happen."
Though the matching funds were used quickly, the chamber ran the campaign until the end of August. Gift cards to local businesses were available to consumers via an online marketplace. Over the course of the two-week campaign, the chamber did more than $65,000 in total sales.
"I wish I could say I was surprised but I know the Jamestown community and I knew that Jamestown would show up," Bivens said. "We've done a good job since the beginning of the pandemic to really support our businesses and this just highlighted all of that.
"Businesses supporting businesses was really an important part of that. That is really what the chamber is out to show, that when we come together as a community and pool our resources we can grow as a community and create these successes like Give, Get, Grow."
Bivens said there were more than 350 consumers and 51 participating merchants in the campaign. Gift cards were purchased from every merchant. Merchants did not have to be members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce to participate in the campaign.
"It was a tremendous turnout for us," said Melissa Brass, Hand Pick'd Boutique owner. "Emily and the chamber reached out to businesses to get all the donations so honestly it only cost us one gift card to start it and the return back was just amazing. It's just really good to see a community come together - businesses and community members alike - just to try and support local. I just think that is absolutely amazing."
Brass said there were 47 Hand Pick'd gift cards purchased by consumers. Suite 140 Salon and Spa owner Shauna Vandehoven said she was excited by the support shown to local businesses by the Jamestown community. Suite Salon sold $350 worth of gift cards during Give, Get, Grow.
"I was closed during the pandemic but people were messaging me and coming in to support (the salon) and keep the business alive," Vandehoven said. "For the chamber to step in and make the community strong, it's like nothing I have ever seen or had even heard of. I would like to thank the community for supporting my small business, I really appreciate everybody."
Now that the campaign has ended, the chamber staff is in the process of contacting all participating businesses regarding payment for the gift cards purchased. The chamber is aiming to have gift cards mailed out to consumers and payment to local businesses by Sept. 7.
At this time the chamber does not have any plans to conduct another campaign of the Give, Get, Grow caliber.
"We're always trying to think of campaigns and things to help our businesses but if this certain campaign will happen again we don't know," Bivens said.
"Give" - Google News
September 05, 2020 at 06:00PM
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Chamber concludes Give, Get, Grow campaign - Jamestown Sun
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