Judy Martens, chamber executive vice president, said the chamber-sponsored "Shop Sallisaw" campaign begins Nov. 21 and is all about keeping people shopping in Sallisaw for the holidays.
"It's to encourage our residents to shop at home," she said.
Twenty-five chamber businesses are taking part in the campaign, which ends at noon Dec. 8.
Martens said when residents make a purchase at one of the participating merchants during the campaign, they will be given a two-side ticket, which has a number on each side. One side of the ticket is kept by the merchant and later turned into the chamber, while the other side is kept by the customer.
Martens noted that residents may get a ticket every time they shop at any of the participating merchants.
At 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in front of Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library in Sallisaw, before the Christmas parade begins, the chamber will announce the winners.
"We are going to give away $2,500 in cash," Martens said.
First-place receives $1,200, second-place gets $800, and the third-place award is $500.
"They must be present to win...with their ticket (or tickets) in hand," Martens emphasized.
The tickets must be obtained from participating chamber-member businesses.
Those involved include ABC Cleaners, Armstrong Bank, Arvest Bank, Blue Ribbon Auto, Brown's Tire Center, Caporales, Charlie's Chicken, Clif's Pharmacy, Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Ed's Truck Shop, First National Bank, Maria's, Mazzio's, National Bank of Sallisaw, Ole South Restaurant, Sallisaw Ford, Sallisaw True Value Hardware, Sammy's Taco Ranch, Sequoyah County Times, Simple Simon's Pizza, Sonic, SuddenLink, The Greenhouse, Wal-Mart, and Western Sizzlin'.
Martens said the opportunity for chamber merchants to participate in the campaign has expired.
Another way the chamber is encouraging people to shop in Sallisaw is through the Chamber Checks program.
Martens explained that businesses or individuals may purchase the chamber checks as gifts. The checks are like gift certificates, except the checks may be redeemed at chamber member locations.
Checks are made out to the recipient, who can use them at any participating business. Martens said the through the program, chamber check recipients have more variety when spending the money. She said 25 to 30 chamber business locations are taking part in the program.
Two of the city's largest employers are giving the chamber checks to employees as their Christmas bonus, Martens noted.
The chamber checks are available all year long.
