Lake Zurich gives incentive to spend locally

Is the chance of winning $1,200 enough incentive to influence where you spend your government economic stimulus rebate check?

The Lake Zurich Area Chamber of Commerce is launching a campaign to entice area residents to spend their rebate checks supporting hometown businesses.

The "Double Your Money - Double Your Fun" campaign rolls out in May to coincide with the arrival of the federal economic stimulus rebates.

"People can spend at any one of the more than 500 chamber member businesses," said Dale Perrin, Lake Zurich chamber's executive director. "We want them to think about spending it on something they have been wanting to get. Don't just use it for regular, daily expenses that you've already budgeted for."

For every $500 spent at chamber member businesses between May 19 and June 30, anyone can enter to win one of six weekly cash drawings for $100 and a grand prize drawing for $1,200.

There is no limit to the number of times someone can enter a drawing, as long as they spend $500 at chamber member businesses, in single or multiple purchases.

The chamber tried a similar campaign in the fall of 2006 to lure shoppers to stores along routes 12 and 22 that had suffered sales losses from a year and a half of roadwork.

"It was tremendously successful," Perrin said. "We spent over $7,000 in gift certificates for that campaign. (Shoppers) had to show receipts of $500 or more cumulative. That was over $140,000 that we encouraged people to spend during the road construction."

Chamber leaders are trying to top that success with this campaign, but at a lesser cost with cash prizes supported by area businesses.

The grand prize drawing will be during Lake Zurich's July 4 festivities at Paulus Park.

Shop-local campaigns are not uncommon. Yet, no other area chamber has paired such an effort with economic stimulus checks.

"It's probably a good idea," said Lou Molitor, president of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce. "It makes sense to tie it into that because people will have some discretionary income. The timing is good."

The success of such campaigns can be hit or miss.

"Some chambers have tried it and will not try it again because it hasn't generated the income to justify the cash prizes," Molitor said. "It's a matter of how far you market it and what you do."

For information about the Lake Zurich chamber's campaign and a list of chamber members, call (847) 438-5572 or visit www.lzacc.com.