Shopping local has its rewards
Fifteen local businesses began the first "Minneota's Holiday Box Shopping Event" on Dec. 7 and early signs are pointing toward it being a success. The event runs until Dec. 21 and gives those shopping local a chance to win a valuable gift box.
"Several business owners wanted to do something fun for the holiday season that showcased all the wonderful businesses in and around the community," said Jodi Maertens, one of the organizers and also host of the event.
"We came up with this sort of 'shop hop' idea. People can pick up their punch cards at The Arched Door, Brad's Market, or Prairie Winds Wellness."
Those shoppers with a punch card can get a stamp when patronizing one of the businesses included in the event.
Once someone visits eight businesses and receives a stamp from each one, they are automatically entered into a drawing to win the Minneota Holiday Gift Box valued at over $150. Items in the gift box were donated by each of the 15 participating businesses.
"If someone makes a purchase at one of these businesses during the event, they can present their receipt and earn an extra entry into the drawing," Maertens said.
"The gift box is filled with items from each of the participating businesses." The idea behind the event came from a similar box club Steph Vlamnick of Prairie Winds Wellness subscribes to.
"I subscribe to one of those quarterly boxes called Fab Fit Fun Box," Vlaminck explained.
"I received my winter rendition and I love it every time I get it."
As Vlaminck was going through her winter box, she realized that many of the items are also available in Minneota.
"That's when I got the idea," she said. "So why not show off what we have to offer in town?"
Vlaminck then reached out to Barb Rye of Arched Door for her thoughts about the plan. "She loved the idea," Vlaminck said.
"So I reached out to other business owners and the Minneota Holiday Box became a reality."
Items inside the Minneota Holiday Box include décor, health items, do-it-yourself items, certificates, clothing, tools, and much more.
The Minneota Holiday Box Shopping Event is designed to give community members and those in the surrounding area a chance to visit businesses in Minneota to see what each one has to offer.
“There are so many different businesses in our small community," said Maertens.
"And we wanted to get the word out and give people the opportunity to stop in and check them out if they didn't know about them or never had the chance to actually go inside."
Participating businesses are: AgPlus, Arched Door, B Lenore, Brad's Market, City Hall Bar & Grill, Highway 68 Liquor, J's Dream, Mary Louise, Minneota Building Materials, One More Time, Penny's Psas, Prairie Winds Wellness, Rian and Jo Boutique, State Farm, and This and That Recreated.