| WILLIAMSPORT, PA (November 24, 2018)Saturday, November 24th marks the kickoff celebration for the fourth annual Shop Small Passport program in downtown Williamsport. This passport program is a three week long celebration of small business that was inspired by American Express' Small Business Saturday program. Shoppers are encouraged to visit any of the participating small businesses and eateries, pick up a passport, and get the passport "stamped" as they shop around town. Completed passports with 8 unique stamps signifying visits to the participating businesses will be entered to win a number of prizes donated by the participating businesses. Prizes include t-shirts, gift cards, gift bags, event tickets, jewelry, and more. The event runs from November 24 - December 15th and winners will be announced on December 19th. Participating shops for this year include Alabaster Coffee Roaster & Tea Company, Arthaus Projects, Avu Goldsmiths, Barr’s Hardware, Bathvs, Backhouse Cafe, Boom City Brewery, The Brickyard, Bullfrog Brewery, Christian Light Bookstore, Clear Sphere, The Clothier, Coleen’s Tole Barn, Community Theater League, Covation Center, Crown Fried Chicken, Derone’s Dynamite Dogs, Devoted To Your Day, Dirty Dogs Studio & Gallery, E.R. Kinley & Sons, Enchanted Christmasland/Aquarius Pool & Patio, Frame It Here, Franco’s Lounge, The Genetti Taphouse, Glaze To Be, Gustonian Gifts, The Graphic Hive, Healthy Touch, Honest Auto Repair Service, Lang’s Chocolates, Le Chocolate, Marc Williams Goldsmith, Moon & Raven Public House, New Trail Brewery, Old School Pizza, Otto Bookstore, Our Generations Quilt Shop, Pasta by Deb, Patinaz, Peter Herdic House, Plankenhorns, Rise and Shine Nutrition, River Valley Apparel, Roy’s Bakery, Salone Simone, Sawhorse Cafe, Sprinkled Sweet, The Stonehouse, Totem Tattoo, Uniquely Primitive, Vanucci’s Photo/Video, Whitesel’s Stained Glass, Wildberry Studios, Williamsport Escapes, & Wine & Design. For a complete list of prizes from each business check out the WBA website at www.williamsportpa.org Shoppers can also download a copy of the passport at the WBA website. Completed passports can be returned at any of the participating shops. Winners will be announced on December 19th. Originally started back in 2015 by Worth and Chelsea Rawson of Dirty Dogs Clay Studio and Gallery, the program has almost tripled in size and really brings together the sense of community among the merchants and small business owners.
"It's so great to see the community come together to help promote one another," Chelsea Rawson said. "It is also a great way for shoppers to discover new gems (small businesses) they might not have heard about." In 2016, The Graphic Hive got involved and donated the printing for all of the passports and stamps. "It was a fun project and was a great way to promote all of the great small businesses Williamsport has as a whole," owner John Yogodzinski said. For 2018, the duo of businesses is teaming up with the Williamsport Business Association (WBA) to make the event even bigger. Beth Armanda, President of the WBA is excited to partner with two of it's core member businesses. "It's always great to see members helping out one another, and one of the real purposes of the WBA," she stated. "We even extended the passport program an additional week this year to accommodate our "Catch The Spirit" holiday event we'll be hosting in December. The Catch the Spirit event is a coordinated effort between the Williamsport Business Association and Lycoming Arts. The event will be held on Friday, December 14th and features late night shopping from 5-8pm, local vendors under white tents on Pine Street, the Loyalsock Lancer Brass, Christmas Carolers, and live music will be playing in the streets, we will have Santa, hot cocoa, and cider for the kids, and we are hosting a window Decorating Contest benefiting the American Rescue Workers. About the WBA The mission of the Williamsport Business Association, a 501(c)(6) Non-Profit incorporated organization, is to recruit, retain and expand quality businesses while promoting the enhancement and growth of Williamsport businesses and to serve as a liaison between city businesses & city administration. The Williamsport Business Association proudly serves both its members and the community. We are businesses working together toward a common goal of shared prosperity, committed to playing a lead role in the ongoing renaissance of downtown Williamsport, and dedicated to supporting the success of our local businesses. In addition to serving its membership with helpful services, programs, and networking opportunities, the Williamsport Business Association is deeply committed to the community, and is the co-host of our city’s monthly First Friday Arts Celebration, when the streets of downtown Williamsport are filled with art, music, artisan crafts, live entertainment, family fun, and more. The Williamsport Business Association also plays an active role in helping to coordinate many downtown Williamsport events such as First Saturday, Shop Small Passport program and Catch the Spirit shopping event, and more. | |
