By By Paul Keane
Publisher
Shoppers will need to do their holiday purchasing quickly this year, as the 2002 Christmas season is the shortest it can be.
Traditionally, the holiday shopping season is held from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas morning. Since Thanksgiving fluctuates each year, that means the season can be either 26 days or 32 days. With Thanksgiving falling on Nov. 28 this year, the shopping season is the shortest it can ever be at 26 days.
That means shoppers should hit the stores early and often, and local officials hope that means area merchants will benefit.
"It's very important to shop in Atmore for a number of reasons," said Emilie Mims, director of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce. "The main thing is that shopping at home means the sales tax dollars stay here, and that is what provides our city services.
"Especially during this time when we are trying to attract some new industries to the area, we need to have good city services. We need to show potential industries and businesses that we have a nice city that provides all the needed services, both for businesses and the residents. By shopping in Atmore, we generate the sales taxes needed to provide and improve on those services."
The Chamber is doing its part by sponsoring a special drawing for people stopping in at participating businesses. A total of 35 area merchants are participating in the Christmas Giveaway Promotion, where shoppers can register for a Dec. 21 drawing to win Atmore Gift Certificates.
Simply fill out an entry form and drop it into the boxes located at the 35 merchants. The first name drawn out will receive $300 in Atmore Gift Certificates, while the next two names drawn out will each be given $100 in gift certificates.
Those certificates can be redeemed and spent just like cash with any Chamber member.