2023 Shop Palmer community-wide event underway

PALMER — The Greater Palmer Chamber of Commerce is putting on its annual Shop Palmer event through Dec. 20.

This annual shopping event encourages community members to shop at their favorite local businesses to be entered for the chance to win gift cards.

Participants simply make purchases and they receive a stamp for every $10 spent at participating businesses. Once 10 stamps are collected, they can enter weekly drawings for the chance to win $500 in gift cards.

Chamber staff will be collecting entry cards Nov. 27, Dec. 4, Dec. 11, and December 18.

Winners can choose between two $250 gift cards or one $500 gift card to participating businesses of their choice.

There is also an opportunity for participants to win a $1,000 grand prize. The grand prize winner has the flexibility to spend their winnings at one location or up to four different locations in amounts of $250 each.

"We're excited about it," Palmer Chamber Executive Director Ailis Vann said.

According to Vann, there are 46 small businesses participating in the 2023 Shop Palmer event. She said this annual endeavor has grown a lot since it started six years ago.

"I love it. I think it shows that we have such a strong sense of small business support in Palmer," Vann said. "It's a popular thing that everybody likes."

Vann said the main goal is to promote local shopping during the holiday season.

"Those are all friends and neighbors… You can't go into Walmart and find something that was made by somebody down the street," Vann said.

Vann said that Palmer businesses are very encouraging towards each other and numerous shops carry local proprietors' products on their shelves. She said the local shoppers have shown to be very dedicated towards spending their money in local establishments as well. She said that Shop Palmer is a great example of the community coming together.

"I think having a strong small business community makes Palmer a fun place," Vann said.

For more information, visit palmerchamber.org/shoppalmer.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com