With November and December barreling down upon us with national holidays, Pagosa Springs also has our own plethora of activities. However, with these activities come due dates; so businesses should start working on their participation and interest level now.
We start off with the Holiday Lighting Contest. This annual event will take place from November 24 to December 31 and residents and businesses need to commit to keeping lights on that entire time. There will be three categories this year: residential, business and storefront window. Applications need to be in by Wednesday, November 15. All entries need to be decorated by November 24 when the online voting begins. Voting takes place until Sunday, December 17 and then the winners will be announced in the Pagosa Springs SUN in the December 21 edition.
Residential category winners can win cash prizes of $1000 for 1st place, $500 for 2nd place and $250 for 3rd place.
Business category winners can win the same denomination of prizes; however, the amount will be awarded in advertising dollars for the SUN.
The Storefront Window category will have a prize valuation of $500 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place and $125 for 3rd place, also paid out in advertising dollars with The SUN.
A complete list of guidelines can be found at https://bit.ly/2023HolidayLightingContest where the link to the application is listed. The Chamber will also have a link to the contest on our home page. More information will be forthcoming on how you can vote for all your favorite lighting displays from November 24 to December 17.
There is always lots of hype about Black Friday deals and discounts. While you are in the shopping mode, don’t forget about our local businesses that will be celebrating Small Business Saturday. Officially sponsored by American Express over 12 years ago, this day brings to mind our local businesses and the need to shop small and local! Many of our businesses will be participating in this event.
If you are a retail, beauty, or food business that is going to participate in this Saturday, November 25 event, please contact membership coordinator, Kim Hartfiel about your participation at info@pagosacamber.com by November 17.
The Pagosa Springs Chamber is a Small Business Saturday community champion. We should be receiving promotional materials soon to give out. However, as a business, you can also customize your business name, media posts and other information through the Amex Small Business Saturday site. Visit https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/benefits/shop-small/#neighborhoodchampions and scroll down to the “Explore Resources” graphic. You can also list your business there on a community map.
The Chamber will be helping to promote our small businesses and we are available to help guide you in how you can maximize traffic to your business that day. People are in the mood to shop, so even offering gift cards for gift giving and later use, scheduling break times for snacks, lunch or “après-shopping” cocktails or food, or special hours or discounts – we want to hear what you have planned. You don’t have much more time to meet the deadline. Get out there and be a part of the promotion to Shop Small.
The Pagosa Daily Post welcomes submissions, photos, letters and videos from people who love Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Call 970-903-2673 or email pagosadailypost@gmail.com