Sleigh the Deals more than a cash giveaway
Minding Our Own Business
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- Sleigh the Deals participant Joanne Chouinard fills out a receipt verification form to confirm the number of poker cards earned for a chance to win $1,000. (Contributed photo)
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- Sheila Krueger
Sleigh the Deals participant Joanne Chouinard fills out a receipt verification form to confirm the number of poker cards earned for a chance to win $1,000. (Contributed photo)
If you live in Delta County, you don’t need to be reminded that winter has a way of testing our patience, our plans and sometimes our snowblowers. This season was no different. A major winter blizzard ultimately led the Delta County Chamber of Commerce to extend the verification deadline for its popular Sleigh the Deals promotion through Monday, Jan. 5, with the winner still set to be announced Tuesday. All other rules remained the same.
But the short extension highlighted something much bigger than weather delays. It underscored exactly why Sleigh the Deals has become such an important Chamber initiative.
At its heart, the promotion was designed to keep local dollars local during the busiest, and most critical, shopping season of the year. From downtown storefronts to family-owned restaurants and service providers, Delta County businesses are the backbone of our waterfront community. They sponsor events, employ neighbors and reinvest in the places we call home.
Sleigh the Deals gave residents a fun, simple reason to think local first. Shoppers and diners who kept their receipts from Delta County businesses earned a chance to win $1,000 — one playing card for every $100 spent, building toward the best poker hand. It was easy to participate, easy to understand, and most importantly, it encouraged people to step into local shops they might not normally visit.
And that’s where the real impact happened.
Sheila Krueger
Every receipt represented more than a purchase. It represented a vote of confidence in local business owners during a season when margins are tight and competition from online retailers is fierce. It meant foot traffic in our downtowns, meals ordered locally, and conversations across counters that don’t happen when shopping carts are digital.
The winter blizzard may have delayed a trip into the Chamber, but it didn’t dampen the spirit of the promotion. Extending the deadline ensured fairness and accessibility for everyone, and reinforced the Chamber’s commitment to supporting both residents and businesses when conditions aren’t ideal.
The final winning hand will be revealed on Tuesday, but the success of Sleigh the Deals can already be measured in the energy it brought to local commerce and the reminder it offered: when you shop local, everyone wins.
The Chamber extends sincere thanks to the sponsors who made the promotion possible — Gladstone and Escanaba Downtown Development Authorities, Community Foundation for Delta County, Crawford Funeral Homes, Island Resort & Casino, Radio Results Network, Lakestate Industries, Delta County EDA, and Escanaba Radio Group — and to the community members who chose to support Delta County businesses this holiday season.
Because in the end, Sleigh the Deals wasn’t just about winning $1,000. It was about investing in the community we all call home — one receipt at a time.
