Local shoppers have another chance to support small businesses and win prizes as the Shop Small Minden Passport program continues following last weekend’s Small Business Saturday.
The event launched November 29 in conjunction with American Express Small Business Saturday, encouraging residents to visit participating merchants, make holiday purchases and gather passport stamps. Completed passports may be returned to any Shop Small Station through December 13. Each finished passport qualifies for prize drawings that will be held live December 13 as part of Christmas in Minden.
Shoppers who spend $30 or more at participating businesses earn a “Minden Golden Ticket,” granting an additional entry when submitted with a completed passport. The passports and Golden Tickets were designed this year by DeNee of Momma’s Little Corner.
Small Business Saturday featured open houses, sidewalk sales, in-store specials, drawings and giveaways. Organizers said the promotion offers an opportunity to shop for Christmas gifts, enjoy local restaurants and support small retailers.
Participating businesses offering both passports and Golden Tickets include ACE-Minden (ticket only), J&K Trading Cards & Collectibles, Farmers Daughter, FlipFlop Resales, Gray’s Jewelry (ticket only), Heavenly Treasures, It’s Sew Monica’s, LaKait Boutique, Minden Family Pharmacy, MLC LKB Belle Ame, Momma’s Little Corner, Parish Design Co., Pippa Lane, Possibilities Antiques & Collectibles, Purvey-Minden, Red Blooms, Say Baby, Seminary Baptist Bookstore & Gifts, Swan & Crow Tattoo Parlor and The Willow Shed.
Businesses offering passports only include The Broken Bean, El Santito, Geaux Fresh, Minden Athletic, Minden Coin & Collectibles, Roma’s Italian Bistro, Shug’s Ice Cream Parlor and Under Dawgs Sports Grill.
Prize donations for the December 13 drawing include a gift basket from ACE Hardware; gift cards from Roma’s, Shug’s, UnderDawgs, Geaux Fresh, Say Baby, It’s Sew Monica, Belle Âme and others; a speaker cup from AJ Price; certificates from El Santito, FlipFlop Resales, Pippa Lane and Swan & Crow Tattoo; a candle from Farmer’s Daughter; a Pokémon surprise box from J&K Trading Cards; a coin and gift card from Minden Coin & Collectibles; baskets from MLC IKB, The Willow Shed and TG’s Gifts; Christmas items from Heavenly Treasures; Spanish Villas Essence Oil and a gift card from Purvey; a Minden coffee mug and Mayhaw jelly from Parish Design Co.; and additional prizes from several participating shops.
Passports must be submitted by December 13 to be included in the drawing.