The Perry Pride Business Booster program, the Perry Chamber of Commerce’s new partnership with the city of Perry and other local sponsors to boost the local economy, rolled out Wednesday for local consumers.
The booster program is open to any Perry business and is designed to help businesses harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting closures. The local relief program promotes the purchase of gift cards to provide much needed cash flow to businesses that are temporarily closed or operating with restrictions.
Perry Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lynsi Pasutti said all businesses are still welcome to participate in the Perry Pride Business Booster by completing an online opt-in form. The only requirement is that the business must be located within the Perry city limits.
“This is a chance to stretch your federal stimulus check while also supporting local businesses when they need it the most — right now!” Pasutti said.
The program is completely online for now, Pasutti said, but an option to mail checks will be available starting Monday, April 27. This will be especially helpful for those without a computer or for businesses seeking to purchase cards as gifts for their employees.
The Perry Pride Business Booster program works like this:
Individuals purchase $30 gift cards from businesses of their choice on the Chamber’s online platform, but they only pay $20 plus applicable service fees. Purchasers will receive an emailed receipt as proof of purchase to present to businesses when redeeming the full $30 value of the gift card, starting one week after purchase (or once the business reopens).
There is no expiration date for the gift cards, but it is recommended that consumers use them by the end of the year.
Businesses receive the full $30 value for each gift card. The Perry Chamber of Commerce received a grant from the city of Perry in order to provide the $10 discount per gift card at no cost to the participating businesses.
The Perry Chamber will mail checks to businesses one to three times each week and provide a list of purchased gift cards for businesses to track them manually. Businesses will honor the digital gift cards in exchange for their products or services just as they would with their own gift cards.
The five-week program will make 2,000 gift cards available for purchase each week, with limited quantities per business per day. Available quantities will be updated each day at noon so if a gift card is sold out, shoppers will be encouraged to check back the following day. This program will potentially generate more than $300,000 of local spending at participating businesses.
The program remains open to any business within the Perry city limits that completes the Chamber’s online application. Thirty-six businesses are currently participating: Alice’s Haus Dresin, Angles Hair Salon, Atelier at 1109, Backwards Boutique, Ben’s Five and Dime, Betsy Peterson Designs, Bluejay Market, Casa de Oro, Common Wealth Provisions, Eye Care Associates PC, Gilded Blonde Tees, Halo Hair Salon, Harper Rose’s Floral and Gifts, Harvey’s at Hotel Pattee, Hotel Pattee, Hulgan Plumbing Heating Cooling and Electrical, It’s Hair, Mandarin Café, Mary Rose Collection, Mex-To-U, Perry Elks Lodge #407, Perry Grand Theater, Perry Greenhouse and Supply, Perry Perk, Quality Auto and Body, Re/Max Pros on Main, Salvaged Soul, Snap Fitness, Styles Unlimited, The Crooked Rail, The Perry Chief, The Proletariat, The Scottish Fox, ThePerryNews.com, Tin Pig Tavern and Walton Tree Service.
Pasutti said additional programming is planned to assist individuals as well. For more information on the Perry Pride Business Booster, contact the Perry Chamber of Commerce at perrychamber@perryia.org or 515-465-4601.
