City launches raffle to support businesses

Sara Feijo sfeijo@wickedlocal.com

Cambridge business owners took a hit this year due to the harsh winter conditions, but the city is trying to encourage residents to shop local with a brand new card game that comes bearing prizes.

The city launched Lovin’ Local raffle card game on March 16 and residents have until Friday, April 3, to participate. To qualify, participants must have local businesses sign at least three of the nine cells on the postcard.

The idea came about after staff at the Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD) heard from local business owners that business dropped on average 30 to 40 percent compared to last winter, according to Pardis Saffari, project planner for the Economic Development Division of CDD.

Deb Colburn, owner of Nomad on Massachusetts Avenue, said the cold, snowy winter kept folks away from shops on Massachusetts Avenue between Porter and Harvard squares. She said business at Nomad dropped around 50 percent in comparison to last winter season.

“It was probably the toughest winter any of us could have ever had,” said Colburn, whose business is participating in Lovin’ Local. “We did half the business we did last year. We were closed five days because of parking bans, and then the T wasn’t running. There was really no where to park.”

How it works

If participants fill at least three cells with three different local businesses, they get one raffle entry, six raffle entries for nine completed cells, and four extra entries into the raffle if they complete a card with a business from each of the city’s commercial districts.

Raffle prizes include, gift cards to local businesses, a one-year Hubway membership, and the grand prize is lunch with Mayor David Maher.

During the first week of the contest, more than 1,000 printed postcards were distributed around the city, and more than 100 were downloaded from the city’s website, Saffari said.

“We hope this will encourage folks to go out and support businesses in Cambridge that make (the city) unique,” Saffari said. “Maybe you’re having a coffee or grabbing something to eat and have businesses sign on the cells.”

Carrissa Blackburn, executive director of Cambridge Local First, said all of the businesses she has spoken with are excited about this new initiative.

“We think it’s a great idea. We love to see when something like this comes around that will be positive for our membership,” Blackburn said, adding that more than 360 businesses are members of Cambridge Local First, a network of independent, locally owned businesses in Cambridge.

The Rules

Step 1: Shop at a local business.

Step 2: Have the local business sign a cell on the postcard.

Step 3: Take a picture at one business you visited and tweet, Instagram or Facebook it using the hashtag #LovinCambMA. Be sure to tag the business you are visiting.

How to enter the raffle:

· Email psaffari@cambridgema.gov a photo or scanned copy of your completed card with signed cells. Make sure to include your name, phone number and social media information.

· Drop off your card to one of the Lovin’ Local boxes located at Cambridge City Hall or Cambridge City Hall Annex. Make sure to fill out your contact information.

· Mail the postcard to Cambridge Community Development Department, Economic Development Division, 344 Broadway, 3rd floor, Cambridge, MA 02139.

Postcards can be picked up at the Mayor’s Office, 795 Mass. Ave., Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, and CDD/City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway.

Postcards can also be downloaded online at cambridgema. They are due by noon on Friday, April 3.

For more information, call Saffari at 617/349-4654 or email her at psaffari@cambridgema.gov.

Contact Chronicle reporter Sara Feijo at sfeijo@wickedlocal.com or follow her on Twitter at @s_fjo.