With belt-tightening all over and the always-tempting option of Internet shopping, the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce has unveiled an ingenious way to encourage people to keep their money in Bigfork.

Beginning on Sept. 1, the chamber started a program that allows members of the chamber of commerce to opt-in to a gift certificate pool, according to Chamber Executive Director Bruce Solberg. The certificates, purchased from the chamber, can be used at any of the participating merchants.

“The main intent is to get people to spend money with Bigfork chamber members,” Solberg said. “And we launched it to be gearing up for Christmas holiday shopping.”

So far, 52 of the 225 Bigfork chamber members have signed up to participate, including everything from restaurants and bars to propane services. When a gift certificate is redeemed, the business sends it to the chamber and Solberg writes the business a check for 95 percent of the amount. The remaining 5 percent is used to cover administrative costs and to fund advertising for the program.

Solberg said that so far 79 certificates have been sold in varying amounts that add up to about $2,500 that will be spent at local businesses.

“We just had a local bank buy 54 certificates as Christmas presents for their employees,” he said.

Solberg said he got the idea at the twice-yearly Montana Association of Chamber Executives meeting, where the chamber director from Havre extolled the virtues of a similar program there.

“She couldn’t say enough about it,” Solberg said. “They’ve brought in $80,000 in gift certificate purchases.”

Joy Page, who owns the Apple Trolley on Highway 35 in Bigfork, said that she was excited about being part of the program, though no one had redeemed a certificate at her store yet.

“I’m hoping they eventually get down here,” she said. “I think it’s a really good idea.”

For retailers like Page, who’s gourmet candied apples cost only a few dollars, the program’s guidelines present a few challenges.

Solberg said that a gift certificate can only be redeemed at one location — so a $100 voucher couldn’t buy dinner at the Bigfork Inn and drinks at the Garden Bar — so purchasers are being encouraged to “buy five $20 certificates instead of a $100 one.”

Page said that if a customer only wanted to buy a single apple, she’d write them a certificate for the Apple Trolley for the difference that would allow repeat visits.

Solberg said the chamber has been pushing the program in radio and television spots and hopes that with time winding down before Christmas, sales will start to rack up.

“We’re working hard to get everyone involved in the branding of Bigfork,” he said. 

Participating merchants 

Apple Trolley

BF Physical Therapy

Bigfork Bay Cotton Co

Bigfork Bay Gift & Gear

Bigfork Inn

Bigfork Propane

Bigfork Web

Bridge Street Cottages

Buffalo Creek Clothing Co.

Candlewycke Inn

Channel Outfitters

Coffee Cellar

Creative & Native

Culinary Design Studio

Electric Avenue Gifts

Eva Gates

Fieldhead's Coffee

Frame of Reference

Garden Bar

Glacier Symphony

H2O Cutting

Healthy Dynamics

icandi Jewelry

Impressions

Islander Inn

Jug Tree

Kathy McDonnell Jewelry

Medicine Owl Massage

Medi-Lift Face and Body Solutions

Merry Gems

Midnight Sun Gallery

Mountain Lake Lodge

Nancy O's Design

Natural Balance Body Works

Outlook Inn Bed & Breakfast

Putting On The Ritz

Raven

Rock 'N river

Roma's Electic On Electric

ShopBigfork.com

Sleeping Bear Lodge

Sun Mountain Pizza

Swan Mt Yoga

Swan Mtn Outfitters

Swan River Garden & Nursery

Swan River Inn

Timbers Motel

UPS Store

Valley Maintenance

Woods Bay Grill 

List updated at http://www.bigfork.org