TAHOE-TRUCKEE, Calif. — Holiday shoppers who visit North Tahoe and Truckee businesses between Black Friday and Christmas Eve will be entered to win a seven-night vacation accommodation package or a cash prize as part of the region’s annual Shop Local Holiday Contest.

Shoppers can enter the “Show Your Love — Shop Local” contest by picking up a contest card at participating retailers in Tahoe City, West Shore, Kings Beach, Northstar, Squaw Valley, Incline Village and Truckee and getting the card stickered by those retailers after completing a purchase of at least $25.

Shoppers with 12 stickers will be entered into a drawing for the seven-night accommodation package in Acapulco, St. Maarten, Spain or Orlando. Shoppers with four stickers will be entered into a drawing for a $300 cash prize.

---

---

The contest was designed to support local businesses, reduce the carbon footprint of locals traveling outside of their community to shop, and protect the region’s local character.

Money spent at local businesses recirculates through wages and taxes, benefiting the economic health of the entire community and supporting unique local businesses.

---

---

The contest begins on Nov. 27 and runs through Dec. 24. Contestants have until Jan. 5 to submit their cards for entry into the drawing. The winners will be chosen on Jan. 15.

A GROWING TRADITION

The contest came to be after a longtime local business owner, Tahoe Dave — Dave Wilderotter of the famous Tahoe Dave’s Skis & Boards ­— collaboratively began the initial program with Tahoe Dave’s Marketing Coordinator Lindsay Thayer in the fall of 2013, modeled after a similar year-round Shop Local program in Michigan.

Lindsay then joined with Ginger Karl, North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association; Joy Doyle, North Tahoe Business Association; and Marianne Schneider, Reiki Tahoe in the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee Leadership Program in the spring of 2014.

Together, these ladies created an action plan in their leadership class that came to life. In the summer of 2014, the program gained some legs and received funding primarily from Placer County, with contributing funds from the Incline Village Business Association, Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce and the Truckee Downtown Merchants Association.

The full program was developed and is now managed through the Business Association Chamber Collaborative, a collective group of area business associations and chambers.

In Truckee, the oversight, promotion and management of the Shop Local Holiday Contest is provided by the Truckee Downtown Merchants Association and the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce.