The White County Chamber of Commerce presents its annual Jingle Bell Shop Event to support local businesses during the shopping season.
Chamber Executive Director Brent Young said the event is important to Sparta. Young said many of the local businesses thrive due to the amount of local business inspired from this event. Young said this event allows for gathered community and support from that community.
“It’s a great way to network, it’s a great way to show off what all of our small businesses have, have to offer,” Young said. “And it’s a great way to get folks, visitors here, to see what is beyond the square.”
Chamber Admin and Member Coordinator Mindy Copeland said the punch-cards help get people into doors of businesses, encouraging customers to shop. Customers receive punches every time they shop at participating small-businesses. Once the participant has a full punch-card, they can enter to win prizes.
Young said local businesses look forward to hosting the event every year, as it creates foot traffic through their shops and opens lines of communication between other business owners. Young said shoppers can have a great experience and it encourages membership.
Young said the county is easy to walk around. Young said many city business are within walking distance from each other and easy to access.
“This particular punch card allowed them to take full advantage of those particular opportunities,” Young said.
Young said there are about 30 small businesses participating in the event this year. Young said hunting supplies, hair products, leather goods, a shoe store, food vendors, a vineyard, a coffee company, home-goods, a flower and gift company and a pharmacy are some of the businesses involved. Young said the Chamber took on new businesses this year. Young said businesses show great interest in the program, calling ahead of time to be added to the list of businesses.
“And then our customers, our travelers they look forward to it as well,” Young said. “It is something that involves our entire community. And, once again, our travelers love to take initiative and be apart of this particular program.”
Participants can pick up punch cards at the Chamber or any participating, local store.
