Holiday punch card encourages community to shop local

ISHPEMING — Shoppers in the Ishpeming and Negaunee areas should make sure to save their receipts when visiting local businesses this holiday season.

The Greater Ishpeming Negaunee Area Chamber of Commerce has rolled out its 2014 Holiday Punch Card. For the third year in a row, shoppers who buy items and services at member businesses can bring their receipts to the GINCC to have their card punched for a chance to win big.

“What we do is, for every $50 you spend at a chamber member business, we punch your card for you and we enter you in for a chance to win,” said GINCC Executive Director Kori Tossava. “Now, the top prize is $150 in Chamber Bucks, which is a gift certificate that can be used at any one of our chamber member businesses, so you could get it, you could pamper yourself, you could use it on groceries, you could use it on gas, whatever you’d like.”

Several member businesses have also donated gift certificates to the campaign. The card helps encourage residents to keep their holiday dollars local.

“There’s a lot of focus sometimes on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but what people don’t realize is that there are some really great deals going on in your own backyard,” Tossava added.

The last day to get your card punched is December 22nd, with the drawing held the following day. Punch cards can be picked up at the Chamber of Commerce office.

You can visit gincc.org or use the GINCC Directory mobile app to find where to shop to get your card stamped.