As a springtime response to the Christmas in October initiative, a new event is being trialled this month with a focus on promoting small local businesses by the name of ‘Swing into Spring.'
Swing into Spring will take place on Saturday, March 23, and the event will operate around the existing hours of operation maintained by each separate business in Moose Jaw’s downtown shopping district.
The idea came about after Laurie Hysuick, the owner of Mitny Refillery, decided to initiate Swing into Spring as a way to celebrate businesses at the end of winter and to draw more shoppers into downtown Moose Jaw.
“We do so much for Christmas in October, but I think spring is great to get out and do your spring cleaning… and enjoy the nice weather again after a long winter,” she said, noting that this year’s “weird and long” winter gave her most of the inspiration for the idea.
To prepare for the inaugural event, Hysuick has reached out to a number of downtown businesses in the past month or two to gauge the level of interest in the proposed undertaking. She said feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and around 20 businesses have confirmed their participation so far.
“I reached out to the Downtown (Moose Jaw) Association… to put out a final reach-out to everyone that may be (interested),” she said. “It was just a way to get everybody working together and have something fun (to do).”
Despite being kept busy with the day-to-day operation of their businesses, Hysuick said everyone seems to be coming together to make it work.
Swing into Spring will take place in a manner similar to Christmas in October, and shoppers can go from shop to shop among participating businesses and see what they have to offer.
Every participating business will contribute something from its normal range of products and services toward a combined gift basket, and with every purchase at each unique shop, patrons will have their name entered to win the event’s grand prize.
Hysuick has suggested a $25 limit for each business to consider, but so far, she said most businesses went over this limit with their donations.
The time and date for Swing into Spring was chosen so that business owners would not be inundated with shoppers as the season starts to open back up following the return of warmer weather.
For the day, each separate business will simply maintain its regular hours of operation with the voluntary option to extend these hours if they’re able to do so.
If any business is unable to participate this year, Hysuick said she doesn’t want any business owner to feel obligated to do anything for the event and she understands the winter has been long and challenging for everyone.
These local businesses are owned by friends, families, and neighbours of Moose Jaw’s residents, and the effort aims to give back to the city’s entrepreneurial community to kick off the spring season.
“Our local businesses are really trying to work together to be better for our community.
“The goal that we’re thinking… is just to see everybody back out (shopping),” she said. “We love seeing our customers come back in, whether they’re shopping or just visiting or walking the loop and having a good time.”
If you own a downtown business and would like to participate in this year’s inaugural Swing into Spring event, contact Laurie Hysuick at 306-694-6330 or visit Mitny Refillery at 5 Manitoba Street East.
