San Jose Downtown Association is involved in three shop-small-shop-local promotions downtown this holiday season. Here’s what’s happening:

Our Gift to You for Shopping Local

SJDA has put together “Our Gift to YOU for Shopping Local,” which rewards customers for shopping and supporting downtown San Jose’s ground-floor businesses.

From Nov. 24-Dec. 24, customers who submit $125 or more in receipts from downtown businesses in the downtown Business Improvement District (map) will receive a $25 gift card from SJDA for a downtown business. Details here

“We want this to be as easy as possible for our customers and our businesses,” said Julie Carlson, marketing director.

Customers:

• Spend and collect receipts from retail stores, restaurants, cafes, museums, health and beauty services, local theatre, and entertainment venues in the downtown core (map)
• Get rewarded by submitting receipts dated between Nov. 24 and Dec. 24 and provide contact info on the form here.
• Check your mail for your gift card.

There are a few restrictions: Touring shows and concerts and Sharks tickets, overnight stays, and parking receipts are not eligible. Taxes and tips don’t count toward spending. The number of gift cards available is limited.

Businesses:

• Please let customers know about the program, encourage them to collect their receipts and go to the website or use the QR code on the fliers and poster to be delivered to your business for your storefront window.
• Please let Event Coordinator Lauren Nuttall, lnuttall@sjdowntown.com, know if your business has gift cards that SJDA can purchase. She will also answer any questions businesses may have. SJDA’s goal is to collect 100 cards from 100 businesses.

The promotion includes a marketing campaign. Along with the webpage LINK, look for posters, fliers, and ads in arts groups programs, Metro, El Observador, Mercury News, Spartan Daily, radio and social media.

And as much as possible, SJDA promotes the City’s 90-minute free parking program.

Holiday San Jose

SJDA is also working with the city Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs’ Holiday San Jose promotion. The eight-week campaign highlights more than 300 San José small businesses and cultural experiences in 11 shopping districts including downtown and its neighboring districts along the Alameda, east Santa Clara Street and Japantown.

At a Holiday San Jose press conference Nov. 16, District 3 City Councilmember Omar Torres credited small business with downtown’s recovery this past year.

“The recovery we have witnessed is in large part thanks to the resiliency of small businesses and the vibrancy of our arts community,” Torres said.

The Holiday San Jose webpage encourages residents and visitors to support small businesses and the local economy, find a new adventure and learn about the community’s history.

Each district is represented on the website, providing a list of places to shop and dine, find local art and enjoy cultural experiences.

The page specific to Downtown San Jose is here:

“Christmas in the Park is a beloved holiday tradition and provides the perfect opportunity to patronize local downtown businesses,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. Mahan reminded people that small businesses draw visitors, employ people and pay taxes that support city services.

San Jose for the Holidays

After Thanksgiving, Team San Jose will push the SJDA and City holiday promotions, plus most of the holiday seasonal and daily events during the holidays on its special San Jose for the Holidays page. This page is mostly been by people from throughout the region and beyond.

American Express Shop Small

SJDA will also support Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25. The program was created by American Express in 2010, now partnering with the Small Business Association. Like SJDA, Amex is now all about supporting small business all year long.ikku