The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG), a Main Street Iowa organization, has announced that Shop Small Saturday will take place in Mount Vernon and Lisbon Saturday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and this year the event is structured like an live interactive game show offering more than $850 in prizes and gift certificates.
Shop Small Mount Vernon-Lisbon is part of the national Small Business Saturday campaign initiated by American Express and taking place throughout the country. As part of the local Mount Vernon-Lisbon event, volunteers will be at a Shop Small booth set up inside the Sing-A-Long Bar & Grill building, 100 First St. SE. At the booth, shoppers will be encouraged to sign up using their name and cell phone number to win Community Cash gift certificates good at any business in Mount Vernon or Lisbon.
Every hour at the top of the hour, a volunteer at the Shop Small booth will reach into a fishtank and draw out one name of one lucky shopper. THAT shopper will be notified by cell phone and will have 10 minutes to return to the booth to receive $25 in Community Cash good for any business in Mount Vernon or Lisbon. At the bottom of the hour, one lucky shopper will win merchandise and/or gift certificates donated by local retailers.
If a winner is unable to get to the fishtank in time, their prize will be added to the next hour’s prize. More than $200 in Community Cash will be given away on Shop Small Saturday. In addition, several community businesses and retailers will be offering gift certificates and merchandise totaling more than $500. In both instances, shoppers must be present to win.
Also, a special “Early Bird” promotion sponsored by Kae Apothecary will be offered. The first 25 shoppers to enter the Shop Small booth after 8 a.m. will have a chance to win $100 in Community Cash. Volunteers will have 25 bags inside the booth, one bag will have $100, and 24 others will have gift certificates and coupons to spend at Mount Vernon and Lisbon businesses throughout the day.
Photo opportunities will be available at both Kae Apothecary, 100 1st St. SW; and at Whimsy and Wonder, 616 B 1st Ave. NE. And two small business expos will be offered: The Home Business Expo, at the FSCC, 221 1st St. NE; and the Shop Small Vendor and Art Fair, at Mount Vernon Creates, 121 1st St. NW.
“This event gets bigger each and every year,” said Joe Jennison, Director of Main Street and Marketing for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group. “It is clear that our merchants and volunteers know how to do Shop Small Saturday! Come out and have fun with us!”
“Small businesses, like small Iowa towns, are the back-bone of our nation and our economy,” said Catherine Kennedy, Chair of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon project. “Support for small businesses and small towns is support for the growth of our families, our friends, and our country. Please plan on joining us on Saturday, Nov. 30, to Shop Small!”
More than 60 businesses in Mount Vernon and Lisbon have agreed to work together to support Small Business Saturday by offering special promotions, live music, specials and sales. More information can be found at visitmvl.com
About Mount Vernon
Historic Mount Vernon, Iowa, is home to 4500 residents, including1200 college students enrolled at Cornell College. Located in Eastern Iowa at the intersection of Highways 30 and 1, 20 miles north of Iowa City and 15 miles east of Cedar Rapids, it boasts a vibrant uptown business community with numerous antique and specialty stores, restaurants, coffee houses, commercial art galleries, and three National Historic Districts.
About the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group
The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group exists to improve the social and economic well-being of Mount Vernon and Lisbon by capitalizing on their unique identity, assets and character. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community in 2008, and practices economic development within the context of historic preservation.
About Main Street
The Main Street Approach is a copyrighted process of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Program has been used in Iowa since 1986 with a total of 56 communities having participated. Mount Vernon was selected as a Main Street community on March 4, 2008 by the State of Iowa, after submitting a comprehensive application and presenting to a select board of reviewers.
