Thirty-five patrons of local retailers, eateries and other businesses got a little help for holiday shopping, entertaining and other needs as winners in the Wesson Chamber of Commerce (WCC) 2021 Shop Local promotion during October.
In the special raffle, shoppers and customers at local businesses between October 1 and November 1 completed entry forms and deposited them in a drawbox from which winners of gift certificates and other prizes were drawn.
WCC started the popular promotion last year to help local merchants, eateries and other local consumer-oriented enterprises rebuild their businesses as they rebounded from COVID-19 pandemic economic restrictions. The Chamber gave each participating business $100 to cover the gift certificate purchases of the winners and costs of other prizes, and provided specially-decorated raffle boxes for promotional displays. The Chamber also publicized the promotion on its Facebook page and sent out materials that spotlighted participating businesses and encouraged customers to visit and patronize them.
Local businesses presented prizes to lucky winners as follows:
Copiah Nutrition -- $100 gift certificate to Ashley Watson.
Nan Drane Massage Therapy -- 30-minute massages to JoLynn Butler and Martha Matthews.
Copiah Ban -- gift baskets to Paula Smith and Lee Lockhart.
Skeetburger Snack Shop -- $10 gift certificates to Sarya Smith, Crystal Stringer, Laiken Thomas and Tyler Fuller; and $20 gift certificates to Keeshia Smith, Madonna Perkins and Chyna Swilley.
Nena Smith School of Dance -- free dance lessons for Annie Rose Cuevas and Aurora Veras.
Wolf Hollow Golf Course -- $100 gift card to Andrea Brister.
Fil-Am Oriental Market & Produce -- $25 cash to Mary Clopton, Donis Smith, Cindy Barnes and Ray Walker.
Milltown Mall -- $25 gift certificates to Bridget Cliburn, Joe Carty, Ashley Walker and Caryl Hacker.
Salon 51 -- $25 gift certificates to Lois Hawkins, Judy Plaisance, Susan Hennington and Anna Hartgraves.
Wesson Ace Hardware -- $100 gift certificate to Ronnie Huggins.
Precious Moments Learning Center -- $100 gift certificate to Gregniquia Byrd.
Trustmark National Bank -- a Trustmark sports chair to Edward Leggett.
Mill Tow Salon and Day Spa -- gift certificate to Betty Zehnder.
Dump's BBQ -- gift certificates to Phil Slay, Robert Derrick, Bob O'Neal and Erin Hester.
"We were thrilled with the success of this promotion for the second straight year in stimulating business and to encouraging shopping local," said Chamber president Marilyn Britt. "The Chamber launched the promotion last year when the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to cancel the annual Founders Day celebration, which is a focal point for local businesses to both enjoy a one-day sales boost and cultivate ongoing customers. The idea of the drawbox promotion is to help local businesses in a similar way, stimulate the economy and lift the spirits of townspeople still worried about COVID-19."