Chamber raffles off $500 shopping spree

By ALEXANDREA BAILEY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com

Thanks to the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce, a lucky raffle winner will be treated to a $500 shopping spree. All anyone has to do to enter is shop local on South Padre Island.

According to the Chamber, to qualify for the Shop the Island raffle, one must spend at least $20 at a South Padre Island business before Dec. 17 and drop off their receipt at any of the following locations: Cactus
Flower, Calypso, Friends of Animal Rescue, Padre Island Brewing Co., Renee’s of South Padre Island, Ship Shape, Sisters Interiors, SPI Chamber of Commerce, SPI Visitors Center and the SPI Birding, Nature Center
& Alligator Sanctuary. Participants can enter multiple times with multiple receipts. They will be asked to fill out an entry form.

The Chamber stresses that one doesn’t have to shop at the above locations to enter the raffle. A receipt from any business located on South Padre Island qualifies.

“It can be for gas. It could be for dining. It could be for groceries. It can be for anything purchased $20 or more here on the Island…Any business, any items purchased here on the Island,” explained Beverly Eymard,
Membership Services for the Chamber.

Eymard has been heading the Shop the Island raffle for the last eight years. According to Eymard, the Chamber has been hosting the raffle for over 20 years.

The Chamber hosts the raffle in conjunction with American Express’ Shop Small Saturday, which is celebrated annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It’s a holiday encouraging people to shop at small
businesses in their communities. This year, it fell on Nov. 30, and the Chamber began its raffle three days prior, on Nov. 27.

“It’s a great way to support our local businesses here on the Island. It brings shoppers here for the holidays and gets them familiar with the businesses,” said Eymard.

The Chamber will draw for the Shop the Island winner on Dec. 19. According to Eymard, the Chamber enlists the help of a random visitor to do the physical drawing to ensure the raffle is completely fair. The
winner will be immediately notified by a phone call.

The raffle doesn’t just benefit local businesses or the ultimate winner of the shopping spree; it also benefits the individual consumer by showcasing the unique selection of shops the Island hosts.

“We have so much to offer here on the Island. We have anything you could want for Christmas shopping and anything else,” said Eymard. “The Island has everything! You’ll find unique items here on the Island that
you may not find anywhere else.”

Eymard says the Island’s beautiful scenery is an added bonus to shopping there.

According to Eymard, last year the Chamber calculated a total $119,000 spent on South Padre Island during the duration of the raffle. One thousand three hundred and thirty-three receipts were turned in. According
to Eymard, each year more and more people have participated in the raffle.

The Chamber’s mission is to “empower members with the tools and support needed to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape,” believing that South Padre Island has the potential to be “the ultimate destination for success.” Chamber efforts like the Shop the Island raffle work towards reaching that potential. To join the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce, visit its website, business.spichamber.com, and fill out the member application. For more information on the raffle, call (956) 761-4412.

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