There’s Something Big Happenin’ This Holiday Season in Downtown Squamish

One lucky holiday shopper will have an extra $1000 dollars to spend on gifts this holiday season as the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) present the “Happenin’ Holidays” cash card contest. The contest will run until December 21st with the winner being determined by a draw.

As holiday shoppers begin to slowly swarm the downtown core looking for the perfect gifts and stocking stuffers, most shoppers will be delightfully surprised when they are handed stamps for purchases they make at participating businesses. Like a holiday themed rewards card, shoppers will be able to get cash card stamps for every $20 dollars they spend during the Christmas shopping season. Each cash card can be filled with 10 stamps and once filled it can be redeemed as an entry to win $1000 in ‘Downtown Dollars’ cash which can be spent at any of the participating businesses in downtown Squamish.

The buzz being generated by the contest is almost palpable as local merchants are busily handing out stamps and cash cards to enthusiastic shoppers hoping that their purchases will bring more than just the joy of gift giving. “The downtown core has such unique gift ideas that you can’t get anywhere else along the Sea to Sky,” exclaims DSBIA Executive Director, Cinci Csere. “The contest really is just a way for merchants to add a little extra holiday cheer to the season and thank people who are shopping locally for their gifts, and really, with such a eclectic choice of products and services I don’t see why you would want to shop anywhere else.”

The contest, which is in its second year, has been a success not only with shoppers but also economically as well as last year’s event translated into $184,000 being spent across 30 participating businesses during the holiday buying season. On average each shopper spent an estimated $400 over the contest’s six-week period with one shopper spending $2000 and receiving 100 stamps.

The “Happenin’ Holiday” cash card contest will also be interspersed with other holiday events such as the “Best Window Display” contest which will add a little holiday competition pitting downtown businesses against one another over who has the best holiday window display. People can vote for their favorite at the Market in the Park on December 11th during the annual Christmas Parade festivities.

Cash cards can be obtained without purchase at any of the 30 participating merchants in downtown Squamish, while completed cards can be submitted as entries at The Kitchen Corner, Gelato Carina, Trinity Romance or at the Chief Newspaper.