On Feb. 13, the Scotts Valley Economic Recovery Task Force will host its next event, #ScottsValleyLove from 10am to 6pm.
Much like the organization’s holiday open house, residents will pick up goodie bags and visit many businesses throughout town, earning treats and trinkets at each stop.
“The whole idea is to keep shopping in the community,” said Susan O’Connor Fraser, the event organizer, Task Force and Chamber of Commerce member and Creative Director/Executive Producer of Tam Communications. “Businesses really appreciate it. Many owners hear, ‘I never knew you were here!’ or ‘I’ve always wanted to come here and have never done it.’”
While the event will be reminiscent of the Holiday Passport, O’Connor has higher aims for February.
“Last time, we had 35 businesses and 100 goodie bags,” she said. “For #ScottsValleyLove we hope to exceed 50 businesses and have purchased 300 themed bags.”
To achieve this lofty goal, organizers have promoted and laid plans earlier.
“We want to make sure we have enough time to get businesses on board and start a public information campaign. So hopefully we’ll have a bigger audience,” O’Connor said.
To participate, residents should visit one of the five Scotts Valley shopping centers and pick up a map and bag in the parking lot with the help of a City Council member or Chamber member running the table. The maps, designed by Joanne Guzman of Bruno’s Bar and Grill, will lead event attendees through town, collecting goodies as they go.
“At each business, community members will get candy or trinkets dropped into their bags,” O’Connor said. “Many of the businesses will also be having sales, promotions, special offers and some may hold in-store raffle drawings. Pictures will also be taken for posting on social media and made available to all those who participate.”
Both events were inspired by Greg Wimp’s “The Haunt.” The Togo’s owner quickly put together a “treasure map” across town through participating businesses on Halloween this year, as a safe alternative to trick-or-treating.
This inspiration may be contagious.
“We’re getting a lot of folks from other Chambers noticing, perhaps a little chamber envy,” O’Connor said. “Many want to know how we can get it done. “We’re tight knit, hard workers.”
Any business interested in participating should contact Chamber Operations Angela Marshall at am*******@sc*****************.com.
