A new Shop Small Scavenger Hunt is offering fun incentives for shoppers who patronize locally owned stores and restaurants this holiday shopping season.
Nassau County officials unveiled the initiative, which is designed to expand Small Business Saturday by highlighting the economic impact and importance of shopping and dining locally.
“Ninety percent of all Long Island companies are small businesses so shopping small makes a big impact,” Nassau County Executive Laura Curran told reporters Monday during a news conference at TrainLand in Lynbrook. “For every dollar spent at a small business, approximately 67 cents stays in that local community. Small businesses employ our neighbors, family, and friends and choosing to buy local helps keep our communities vibrant and strong.”
To participate, officials encouraged shoppers to print out the Shop Small Scavenger Hunt sheet available at nassaucountyny.gov/shopsmall, nassauida.org/shopsmall, or ncchambers.org/events.
To compete in the hunt, shoppers must complete four of the eight tasks, such as purchase a beverage or snack from a local shop or deli and take a selfie with it, take a selfie while getting a haircut at a local barber shop or while getting nails done at a local salon, purchase clothing at a local boutique or gift shop and take a photo with it in front of the store, or buy something at a local hardware store or variety store and take a photo with the purchase in front of the store.
All purchases must be made on Small Business Saturday, all of the shops must be within the same community, and none of the purchases can be made at national retail chains — locally owned mom-and-pop shops only.
The completed Scavenger Hunt sheet and corresponding photos of four tasks must be submitted by 10 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30. Entries can be submitted on Facebook by tagging: @NCExecutive, @NassauCouncilofChambersofCommerce, @NassauCountyIDA and #ShopSmallNassau or via email to info@ncchambers.org with the participant’s name and #ShopSmallNassau in the subject line
The first successfully completed contestants will win gift cards to stores in the community in which they shopped. The first place winner gets $300 in gift cards, the second and third place winners get $200 in gift cards, and the fourth place winner gets $100 in gift cards.
“It’s important that we continue to support our small businesses who are the backbone of this county and nation,” said Richie Kessel, Chairman, Nassau Industrial Development Agency. “We encourage all Nassau residents to shop locally and in their downtowns throughout this holiday season.”
