Unwrap Lincoln Square Ravenswood This Holiday!

It’s Here! The 2014 Holiday season is upon us and it’s the most important season for small businesses. The Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce (LSRCC) and SSA 21 is investing in its businesses this holiday season and encouraging residents to shop local. The north side chamber is once again working with Local First and the City of Chicago to spread the word about the importance of shopping local.

“In 2013 the results of the Unwrap Lincoln Square Ravenswood campaign were amazing. Just with the receipts we collected, we were able to track more than $76,000 in spending in our local businesses,” said Rudy Flores, executive director of the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. “The majority of that money is recirculated right back into our community in the form of salaries, rentals, taxes and more. The more you spend locally, the more money stays in your community helping it flourish.”

The program concept is simple: spend $300 at a minimum of three local businesses, turn in your receipts to the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce and you could get a present yourself. The first 150 shoppers to turn in their valid receipts by January 10, 2015 will be eligible for a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant in the community.

“The gift certificates will be valid after January 15th, in order to encourage spending in a normally quiet first quarter. Restaurants and businesses are typically a bit slower right after the holidays mainly because of spending fatigue. We want to give a little incentive to people to go out have a bite to eat and spend a little money in that first quarter,” said Flores.

The local initiative works, according to a study by the Institute for Local Self Reliance in 2012. Neighborhoods with a “buy local” program have an uptake of more than 5 percent in revenue. The 2013 campaign contributed over $76,394. 00 back into the neighborhood.

Black Friday, Small Business Saturday & Tree Lighting

The Holidays will kick off in Lincoln Square with the Unwrap campaign beginning Black Friday, November 28th. Small Business Saturday will be celebrated in style this season with shoppers in Lincoln Square Ravenswood community entered to win a $50 gift certificate just for shopping on Small Business Saturday. We’re topping off the shopping weekend with the Tree Lighting in Giddings Plaza and the Kinderchor providing Christmas carols festivities kick-off at 5:00.

“Small Business Saturday helps to highlight the contributions that small businesses make to their communities,” said Nicole Leinbach-Reyhle, Small Business Saturday spokesperson. “As a former resident of the Lincoln Square community myself, I know first-hand just how much charm and impact the small businesses bring to this fantastic community all year round. The activities happening there on Small Business Saturday are an amazing way to remind shoppers about the value of spending locally with small businesses throughout the holiday season and into the New Year.”​

How Unwrap Lincoln Square Ravenswood Works

LSRCC will award the first 150 shoppers that spend $300 at a minimum of three local businesses a $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant in the community. Qualified shoppers have to collect their receipts starting Friday, November 28th – Wednesday, December 24th and turn them into the Chamber office. Copies of receipts must be turned in by January 10, 2014. Full details on the program can be found online at www.LincolnSquareRavenswood.org. The program is available in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood, Chicago. The borders of the neighborhoods are from Foster Avenue (North), Ashland Avenue (East), Montrose Avenue (South), Chicago River (West).