By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – To foster business in the southern tier, Chautauqua's two largest chambers merged a few years ago. And now, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has a new collaborative plan to keep shoppers in the county this Christmas.
From Dunkirk to Jamestown and all points in between, there's a lot of neat stuff to be found in Chautauqua. How about a box of tasty frogs from Webb's Candies in Mayville? Or maybe a furtastic teddy bear kids can stuff themselves at Kabob Bear Country in Sinclairville?
The Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce launched the joint marketing campaign to let shoppers know about the varied selection that's available to shoppers in Chautauqua. Chamber spokesperson Amy Vercant says that in the past, shoppers have been lured away to neighboring Buffalo and Erie, Pennaslyvannia.
"Both of those communities have very large shopping centers, so it seems to be just a natural reaction for people to go to those areas," said Vercant. "And what we're trying to do is to convince people that realizing, yes, there are some items that you're not going to be able to purchase here. But what we want residents to do is to take a look at stores that are right here in our communities, and to try to find those gifts or those products you need to purchase here in the county before you go out to those other areas."
Shoppers can purchase gift certificates at outlets throughout the county that are redeemable at 141 different retail shops, museums and other cultural venues.
Vercant says the promotion seems to be catching on. County businesses are reporting nearly $100,000 of additional sales since the program began.