With spring’s arrival thoughts of growing extended beyond Mother Nature at the Washington County Economic Alliance as Chamber Director Kay Sipes sought to encourage business growth.
In addition to growing the chamber by adding 16 members so far this year, Sipes sought to grow activity at member’s businesses through a planned event new to the organization.
Sipes crafted a “hopping good time” through a week-long Bunny Hop Retail Eggstravaganza held April 6-13.
The event gave shoppers at participating retailers incentivized customers by offering a raffle ticket for every $25 spent. The raffle prize of $250 was won by Caroline Meyer, who made her purchases to enter at Emery Lee.
The Bunny Hop Eggstravaganza reported shoppers spent $20,100 during the Bunny hop, which was calculated based on the 804 raffle tickets collected.
“I have to say thank you to the merchants that participated in our first Bunny Hop,” Sipes said, noting the event will be planned next year. “I’m also thinking of ways to do something similar with restaurants.”
“When I began planning the event, I was hoping for five participants,” she continued. “But it kept growing. I think more will participate next year and this will be an event we all look forward to. The participating business did a great job offering sales and promoting the event. I think that contributed to the success and I’m very proud of the results.”
Participating chamber retailers displayed signage of a blue bunny in their window and many offered sales to increase the incentive to shop during the event.
Participating in the Bunny Hop were Emery Lee Boutique, Fountain’s Green Grow-Cery, Hair Tenders, McCall & Co., Montage Marketplace, Sipi Gal Fashion Boutique, Soul Nutrition and The Country Gentlemen.
Washington County Economic Alliance Deputy Director Will Coppage said that Sipes has played a vital role in bringing a new energy to both the Chamber and the community.
“The chamber’s focus is to drive customers to chamber businesses, and the Bunny Hop does just that,” Coppage said. “This is just one example of a new event that Kay has brought to the organization. She is creating new community and business partnerships, which in turn, generate new ideas. I want to also thank the chamber members that are participating in the Bunny Hop. We feel their energy to create positive a positive impact, and the Chamber is stepping up to the challenge.”
