Duane Hicks
Have a “Go Local” card? Well, get swiping.
“Go Local” turns two years old this month and as part of the birthday celebrations, organizers are giving away 5,000 “Go Local” points to a lucky member.
Some time this month, one lucky shopper will help the program reach its one millionth point when they have their card swiped at a participating “Go Local” merchant.
If that shopper is the one to earn the milestone point, they will get $400 worth of gift cards to spend at “Go Local” merchants.
RRFDC and “Go Local” intern Jamie Petrin said the total currently sits around 997,000 points.
Given that there are points being earned every day at any of the 35 “Go Local” member businesses, she estimates the one millionth point should be earned within the next couple of weeks.
The individual who does earn that millionth point won’t know they are a winner during that transaction, but will be notified within a few days.
On Tuesday, Petrin, fellow RRFDC and “Go Local” intern Maria Cristina Ciotti, and Coun. June Caul took to downtown Fort Frances to hand out birthday cupcakes to shoppers they found using their “Go Local” cards.
Since its launch two years ago, “Go Local” has been building steadily.
Ciotti noted there currently are 4,200 loyalty members across Rainy River District.
Altogether, the program has issued $51,500 in $25 gift cards to loyalty members who earned at least 300 points at local merchants.
These gift card dollars ultimately go back into member businesses, noted Ciotti.
Those who haven’t gotten their “Go Local” card yet are encouraged to do so at member businesses. Just look for the “Go Local” sign in the window.
Be sure to register your card, Ciotti stressed.
The program has 35 member businesses from Fort Frances, Emo, and Barwick, with the two newest ones being Degagne Equipment and Emo Drugs.
“Go Local” businesses big and small have been happy with the program.
“It is an amazing program,” said Terry Mueller, operations manager at Sunset Country Ford here.
“The biggest thing is local customers have to reward themselves for spending money locally,” he noted.
“That’s what’s nice about it.
“And for the local businesses, what a great opportunity to [put] money back into the community,” added Mueller.
“For us in the car line, we always use it over the holiday season as an extra incentive.
“It gives people some extra money at Christmastime,” he reasoned.
Mueller said there was a “considerable amount” of “Go Local” gift cards issued in November and December thanks to purchases made at Sunset Country Ford.
“The staff down at ‘Go Local’ worked so well with us to process those cards quickly and get them through in a timely manner so people could use them,” he noted.
“To me, it’s one of the best programs we’ve had in a long time here,” Mueller concluded.
Jennifer Horton of Curvy Chick in downtown Fort Frances, meanwhile, said she has seen rewards from the program.
“I have people that use their card here and I have people that redeem their gift cards,” she remarked.
“So it’s works well for me.
“It’s great that people are getting enough points to redeem their gift cards,” added Horton.
“A lot of [customers] are really excited that I offer ‘Go Local,’ and are excited when they get their gift cards.
“I see a lot of them redeemed here,” she reiterated.
Horton agreed the “Go Local” team is “really great to work with and to help you with different promotions, especially with social media.”
“[The program] is working really well for me, and I hope it continues,” she noted.
If Horton had any advice in regards to “Go Local,” she reminded customers to bring their loyalty cards with them when they shop.
It’s never too late to become a “Go Local” merchant or loyalty member.
Learn more about the program by “liking” it on Facebook, following it on Twitter, or signing up for its newsletters at www.golocalfortfrances.com
