Chamber, GEDC Holiday Shopping Spree kicks off next Friday in Graham

The Graham Chamber of Commerce and Graham Economic Development Corporation are kicking off the annual Holiday Shopping Spree for local businesses in Graham next Friday. The event encourages shopping at local merchants and gives the community a chance to win prize drawings in the process each week.

The Holiday Shopping Spree event will run through Friday, Dec. 17. Graham Chamber of Commerce CEO Krisa De La Cruz said last year the event was able to give out $7,000 in Chamber Bucks and for the last three years has contributed to over $220,000 in local spending.

“We love this program because it really promotes shopping locally during the holiday season of course. Merchants, retailers (and) restaurants as well, really depend on this season. They are usually very busy, which is good for them, and they depend on us to support them during the holiday season so that they can continue to thrive and grow here in Graham. So, it is really important for that reason, but of course also we like promoting our local retailers because of the great services they provide, the great products they provide, their customer service and so we want it for our residents as well,” De La Cruz said. “It also gets even more money flowing in our local economy. As we know, the dollar exchanges hands about seven times before it leaves a community, so essentially spending your money here Graham lets you maximize the impact of that dollar here locally.”

The event will kick off Friday, Nov. 26, with a prize drawing event at Here & Now Boutique with two $1,000 Chamber Bucks prize drawings. Chamber Bucks can be used at qualifying chamber-member merchants in the city. De La Cruz said the program itself is made possible by Graham Economic Development Corporation and other sponsors.

For the rest of the story, see the Nov. 17 edition of The Graham Leader.