By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
A popular holiday shopping promotion designed to drive shoppers to Yukon businesses is underway.
Yukon Yuletide Express is back after being canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. Presented by the Yukon Chamber of Commerce, the Christmas retail effort started Nov. 19 and runs through Dec. 15.
Shoppers who visit the 40-plus participating businesses will be eligible to win $4,000-$5,000 worth of “Santa Bucks” awarded in a grand prize drawing set Thursday, Dec. 16 on Main Street Yukon.
“Yukon Yuletide Express encourages people to shop local and help increase our sales tax base, which supports our infrastructure,” Yukon Chamber CEO Pam Shelton said. “We want everyone to come spend money at these local businesses.
“Most of those who were successful before with Yukon Yuletide Express have returned to participate this year. We have a lot of ‘mom and pop’ small businesses, and some chain stores.”
The last Yukon Yuletide Express, in 2019, generated nearly $1 million in sales at participating businesses.
INCENTIVE TO SHOP, SPEND
Customers will receive one red ticket for every $10 spent with a Yukon Yuletide Express merchant, up to 500 tickets per visit.
“They also can get one ticket just for going into a (Yukon Yuletide Express) business and asking for it,” Shelton said.
All tickets will be entered in the big drawing.
A list of Yukon Yuletide Express participants may be found on the Yukon Chamber’s website and Facebook page.
Yukon shoppers are reminded to keep their tickets. They must be present at the Yukon Express Departure Party – set 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the 10 West Main parking lot – for a chance to win Santa Bucks.
“We’ll start drawing around 7 p.m.,” Shelton said. “After the winning tickets are drawn, Santa will depart and head to the North Pole.”
Those oh-so-treasured Santa Bucks must be redeemed by Jan. 31, 2022, at participating Yukon Yuletide Express businesses.
In coming weeks, Yukon Yuletide Express will feature Santa sightings and surprise $25 Santa Bucks’ presentations to shoppers at participating merchants.
To learn more about Yukon Yuletide Express 2021, call (405) 354-3567 or visit www.yukoncc.com
