MINTO – The Minto Chamber of Commerce is offering a program designed to help businesses with cash flow and local charities at the same time.
“Over the course of the last few weeks we have heard from many businesses that cash flow during this time is the biggest challenge they face,” chamber officials state in an April 6 press release.
In an effort to assist businesses with this challenge the chaber, in partnership with the Town of Minto and OSIM Interactive, have launched an online Think Minto First Gift Certificate Program.
The Minto Chamber of Commerce has been running the “Think Minto First!” Fundraising program for nine years. The program allows community groups to sell gift certificates to participating Minto businesses while raising funds for not-for-profit Minto organizations.
“It has been wildly successful over the past two years, with sales up wards of $50,000 to local businesses,” officials state.
“Our Minto business community supports minor sports, events, downtown beautification and so much more. Now, these same businesses are the ones in need. These businesses not only offer products and services to their customers, they also help make up the tapestry of our community,” said Minto chamber president John Mock.
OSiM Interactive a Minto web development company offered to develop a Shopify store to sell gift certificates to Minto businesses.
“It is important for everyone to do what they can to help businesses survive this crisis. OSiM has create a platform allowing businesses to generate some revenue so that when this is over, these businesses are still around to serve our community,” said OSiM Interactive owner Glen Hall.
Customers visit www.thinkmintofirst.com and select the store(s) they wish to purchase certificates from in either $25, $50 or $100 denominations; the chamber will cover any processing fees for both consumers and businesses. A confirmation or sales receipt will be sent to the customer which can be printed off or saved on their device and presented at the time of purchase. The merchant will record the order number and amount, it will act same as cash.
Somer Antonopoulos of the Minto Chamber says “Our hope is that people will purchase gift certificates now to offer some financial relief to businesses and redeem them later once things return to normal.”
Open to all businesses in Town of Minto
“While the Think Minto First! Fundraising program is usually specifically for Minto Chamber of Commerce members the current COVID-19 situation will create a strain on the whole business community and we want to ensure we offer assistance to any and all businesses during this time,” stated Mock.
For more information or to sign a Minto business up to participate contact Antonopoulos at info@mintochamber.on.ca or 519-444-8487.
