SHELBURNE FALLS — While searching for gifts for loved ones this holiday season, businesses in Shelburne Falls and Northfield are urging people to shop local, and to sweeten the deal, offering prize baskets worth more than $2,000 in total to those who participate in this year’s expanded holiday passport initiative.
“It’s a way to have fun during the holidays, shop local and meet your neighbors,” said Downtown District Coordinator Christian LaPlante, who organized the program with assistance from steering committees in Northfield and Shelburne Falls.
LaPlante said the passport program has been run in the past few years with great success in Northfield, so this year it is being brought to Shelburne Falls.
“This is the first time this format has been brought to Shelburne Falls,” LaPlante said. “It’s been successful and we’re really excited we’ve made it bigger and more cohesive among the communities.”
“The Holiday Passport is a simple, fun way for people to explore the village, support the
businesses that anchor our downtown, and rediscover what makes this village so
special,” said Cate Chadwick, Shelburne Falls Steering Committee coordinator. “Every
sticker represents a real visit, a real conversation, and real support for our local
economy. We’re thrilled to join Northfield in launching a program that celebrates our
small businesses and the people who make them shine.”
Participation is simple, LaPlante explained, just stop at each of the participating businesses listed on the passport and get a sticker to mark their passport. Participants who stop at all locations and submit their passports are entered for a chance to win one of several prize baskets with goods donated from the participating businesses. People do not need to make a purchase at all locations, but shopping is encouraged.
Passports can be dropped off at any participating business or submitted virtually at bit.ly/2025passport. Passports must be submitted by Dec. 31 in order to be entered for the drawing on Jan. 14.
In Shelburne Falls, participating businesses include Boswell’s Books, ENJOY, Mocha Maya’s, Juice Box Wine Bar, and more. The 22 businesses involved have put together two prize baskets: a small basket valued at $350, with gift certificates to several of the restaurants and shops in town, quilted potholders from Ann Brauer Quilt Studio and a T-shirt from Hotfire Bar & Grill; a large basket valued at over $1,000, with gift certificates to shops and restaurants, a bottle of French Champagne (Aubert Et Fils) from Shelburne Falls Cork, a basket of goodies from Mo’s Fudge Factor, a four-piece serrated knife set from Lamson Factory Outlet Store, and more.
In Northfield, participating businesses include Gracie’s Gift 1770 Farm, Kidder & Co., Fiddleheads Gallery, The Brewery at Four Star Farms, and several others. The 14 participating businesses have put together two prize baskets: one small basket valued at $175, with a trail pass and ski/snowshoe rental for two from Northfield Mountain, a Dickinson Memorial Library tote bag, a basket of goods from Northfield Food Mart and gift certificates from Northfield Golf Course, and the Franklin County Gift Card valid at various locations throughout the county, and a large basket valued at $450, with river cruise tickets for two from First Light, jams and salsas from Gracie’s Gift 1770 Farm, a serving bowl from Tom White Pottery, gift certificates to shops and restaurants in town, and more.
LaPlante said businesses in both Shelburne Falls and Northfield were eager to participate and quite generous with their prizes.
“Businesses were very excited to participate, it was pretty easy to put together,” LaPlante said.
He noted that for many small local businesses, the holiday season is when they see most of their sales, and the passport initiative aims to drive sales further and steer more people away from online retailers and big box stores and into shops owned by their neighbors.
“Shopping local has never mattered more. Our small businesses rely on the holiday season to carry them through the slower months, and this year, especially, they’re feeling the squeeze. For every $100 spent locally, about $68 stays right here in our community, compared to less than $15 when we shop online, so programs like this Holiday Passport program help keep that ripple effect close to home,” Jessye Deane, executive director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and Regional Tourism Council, said in a statement. “And let’s be honest: we all love prizes. That little extra nudge turns ‘I should shop local’ into ‘Let’s hit every stop on the map,’ which translates directly into foot traffic. This program is 100% community-driven; businesses told us they needed help getting more people through their doors, and this delivers.”
Passports can be picked up at businesses in the two communities, or online at moretofranklincounty.com.