Buy B.A. Benefits Businesses, Customers
By EMILY RAMSEY
Managing Editor
As the holiday shopping season gets into full swing, so does the push from communities to keep money within city limits.
The city of Broken Arrow was one of the area pioneers for a program that rewards shopping local: Buy Broken Arrow.
The program kicked off this year Nov. 1 and continues through Dec. 15.
“The campaign highlights and promotes the city of Broken Arrow and the many wonderful businesses that are a part of the community,” says April Sailsbury, senior vice president with the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce.
The number of stores participating this year has increased to almost 100. For the complete list of participating merchants, visit buybrokenarrow.net.
As the list of merchants grows longer with each holiday season so does the variety of stores, from bicycle shops to grocery and jewelry stores. “It’s an awareness campaign. It opens residents’ eyes to what’s available in B.A,” Sailsbury says. She adds that merchants continue to reap rewards after the event ends. “It affects businesses year round. They get customers in the store and turn them into longtime customers.”
Spoke House Bicycles, 224 S. Main St., just relocated to the Rose District at the end of October. This will be the store’s first year to participate in Buy Broken Arrow.
“How could we not be involved?” says co-owner Brittany Pfaff. “We would feel like outsiders because everyone’s involved, and it’s fun. We wanted to be a part of that.”
Pfaff grew up in Broken Arrow and is well aware of the program’s popularity. She remembers her family collecting tickets for the giveaway each year.
Pfaff and her husband, Zach, opened their first Spoke House location in Tulsa in March of last year; although, “our plan all along was to be in Broken Arrow and on Main Street,” she says.
“We like the community feel of Broken Arrow.”
Yet, when they found an available location in Tulsa, they took it. They planned to next open a store on Main Street, but the building they planned to purchase had structural problems. So, instead, they opened their store on Lynn Lane.
Now almost exactly a year later, they have relocated to Main Street and received, Pfaff says, a warm welcome from both customers and business owners. “I think every shop owner has come in and welcomed us to downtown. Everyone wants everyone to succeed, because that helps all of us.”
Pfaff is particularly excited about the nearly-completed streetscaping project, which widened sidewalks and narrowed a portion of the roadway on Main Street. The project was done in an effort to encourage walking traffic and bring more events and new businesses downtown.
Another Buy Broken Arrow merchant participant, Moody’s Jewelry, 2013 W. Kenosha St., celebrated 69 years of business in November. The jewelry retailer is this year’s sponsor of Buy Broken Arrow and has participated in the program since the store opened in Broken Arrow in 2005.
“We immediately got involved (in the program) because we want to be a part of Broken Arrow and the community,” says Thomas Stoltzner, manager of the Broken Arrow location. “People are very loyal to the area; they work and live in Broken Arrow and want to shop here too.”
While Stoltzner expects to see the traditional, popular items, like sterling silver and diamonds, continue to sell well during the holiday season, he also notes that the company’s pre-boxed items offer customers a wide selection of jewelry and prices.
The gifts include watches, pendants, earrings and engagement rings—”A lot of people like to get engaged during the holidays,” he says.
Customers receive one ticket for every purchase under $10 with a maximum of 100 tickets per purchase. The drawing for the winning tickets will take place Dec. 17 at Moody’s Jewelry at 3 p.m. The prizes are $10,000, $3,000 and $2,000. Customers do not have to be present to win.
Winning ticket holders have two business days to claim their prize.
To find the winning ticket numbers, visit bachamber.com or brokenarrowok.gov.
Updated 12-11-2013
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