Christmas is just a few weeks away, and Estevan Mercury Publications is encouraging people to shop locally as part of this year’s Christmas promotion.
They can win great prizes when they enter, too.
Deanna Tarnes, the sales manager for Estevan Mercury Publications, said people need to watch Southeast Lifestyles and the Estevan Mercury to see who the participating businesses are this year. And they have to use the hashtag #MercuryChristmas for their entries.
“There are many ways you can enter,” said Tarnes. “You can go to business Facebook pages and answer their trivia questions with the hashtag #mercurychristmas to be entered to win.
“They can go to participating businesses and take a picture of the building and post it on the Mercury Facebook page with the hashtag #MercuryChristmas.”
There might be bonus questions on the Mercury’s Facebook page, or opportunities for bonus entries in ads that appear in the papers, so people have to be observant.
Up to 20 businesses will be participating, including retailers, restaurants, service companies and more.
Prize packages will be awarded on Nov. 23 and 30, and Dec. 7 and 14, that have prizes from participating businesses. Then on Dec. 21, the Mercury will be giving away $1,000 cash to be spent at the businesses.
The deadline to enter will be 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 20.
People can watch the Mercury’s website to find out the winners each week.
The weekly draws will largely include gift cards or tickets to upcoming events.
Tarnes said this promotion is the Mercury’s latest effort to help local businesses and advertisers. The Mercury is trying to come up with ways for businesses to reap the benefits of advertising weekly, while growing their social media presence by asking people to like and visit those companies’ Facebook pages.
“You can enter as many times as you’d like. Any chance you get, share a post. Let people know. Help everybody find ways to shop locally this holiday season.”
The Mercury will also be supporting the Envision Counselling and Support Centre this Christmas. For each hashtag using MercuryChristmas, the Mercury will donate $1 to Envision, up to $1,000.
This is the second straight year the Mercury has partnered with Envision.
“I always think it is an overlooked agency, and they have lots of exciting things coming up … in the new year,” said Tarnes.
People can look forward to articles from Envision in the Mercury and on the paper’s website in the coming weeks.
The Mercury is also promoting Estevan’s Christmas Catalogue, which will be included in the Nov. 23 edition of Lifestyles.
“The main point of this catalogue was to show everyone that they can do all of their Christmas shopping in Estevan,” said Tarnes. “There is something for everyone on your list right here at home.”
The 32-page booklet showcases gifts for every person on the shopping list. The participating businesses range from home-based businesses to medium and even large businesses, with retailers, restaurants, grocery stores and more involved with the promotion.
“People get excited about this book. There’s something nostalgic about having a book in your hand.”
All participating businesses will also get copies of the catalogue to hand out to their customers.
