An on-ice shopping cart race against the clock is not something one sees everyday.
The mere idea evokes childhood memories of game show contestants zooming down store aisles, doing whatever it takes to pile items into their shopping cart.
The contest is expected to excite fans attending Friday’s OHL semi-final playoff game between the North Bay Battalion and the Hamilton Bulldogs.
“Shopping local is about celebrating the diversity of our community’s entrepreneurs - the people bringing us the things that add joy to our lives,” explains Mark Sherry, Founder of One Red Maple, the online technology that empowers independent local retailers to compete with Big Retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
“Our shopping cart stunt reminds us that enjoyment is part of the shopping experience, and that supporting local store owners is the best way to ensure the strength and vitality of our local economy.”
According to research conducted by Loco BC in 2019, independent businesses recirculate up to 4.6 times more revenue than multinationals, keeping up to 63% of revenue in local markets compared to just 14% with multinationals.
“Local retailers are risk takers, creatives and incredible curators, and its our mission to help them thrive for all our benefits,” said Sherry.
One Red Maple and the North Bay Battalion invited six local retailers to contribute prizes to the on-ice extravaganza that will take place during the second intermission at Friday night’s home game. A lucky contestant chosen from the crowd will have 60-seconds to scramble around the ice filling their shopping cart with exciting prizes from Creative Learning, The Farm, Junior World, Lefebvre’s Source for Adventure, Skaters North Source for Sports, and Vested Interest.
If they beat the clock, they’ll win a $1,000 shopping spree at one of the participating independent retailer’s shops. What’s more, they’ll get to keep the shopping cart items and pay them forward to local heroes of their choosing who have enriched the lives of our community.
North Bay residents can also win a $1,000 local shopping spree, and other fun prizes, by signing-up to be notified when the new One Red Maple “shop local” app becomes available in the Google Play and iOS App stores in June.
Register at www.oneredmaple.com/win
