Shop Owensboro Summer Edition is set to take place Saturday in an effort to help promote local businesses. Instead of a BINGO card with individual stores like Small Business Saturday in November, the Summer Edition on will focus on different areas of town to visit and shop.
The event is powered by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and Independence Bank, as they encourage the community and surrounding region to support local businesses in Owensboro throughout the day.
“We’ve been doing shop local since the pandemic began, urging the community to do what they can, go online with the retailers, do carryout from local restaurants,” said Candance Castlen Brake, Chamber President and CEO. “We felt like it would be really good to formalize it and do it this time of year.”
Many of the businesses are located near each other in various areas across town, and they are encouraged to work together to build up the event.
“We encourage businesses in those areas to create excitement by coordinating together for a unique shopping and dining experience to boost support for local businesses throughout the day,” Chamber Executive Director Jessica Kirk said in a release to participants. “Shops are encouraged to have pop-ups, food trucks and music along with hosting a trunk show or having focus on an exclusive vendor. Shops are also encouraged to partner with others to promote visiting their specific area town along with the event as a whole.”
Kirk said through the partnership with Independence Bank, the Chamber will be drawing a winner from each of the six parts of town for a $100 gift card to be used at the customer’s choice of one of the local shops or restaurants in that area. Some stores may also elect to do your own drawing or giveaways.
Kirk said they know not everyone will feel comfortable being inside of a store or restaurant.
“We’ll encourage those who aren’t to still support the local businesses listed by shopping online or contacting (the store) directly to make purchases,” her email reads. “Additionally, we’ll remind people of the multiple carry-out or drive-thru options to support our local restaurants.”
Brake said the event is a way to help give back to Chamber members since they are always eager to help the community.
“Those small business owners invest in what we do every day and this is our way of giving back to them – to promote them and showcase what they’ve done,” she said. “Every time when people look for donations or look for something from the business community, they look at these small businesses. These are the first people to get asked to give to the community. We are asking the community to give back by doing business with them.”
