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Holiday shopping fun in the '9B'

by Mandi Bateman Editor
| December 12, 2019 12:00 AM

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Businesses embraced the 9B Ladies on the Loose event by offering incentives for the shoppers, like these at Under the Sun.

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Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The 9B Ladies on the Loose brought customers in to various stores where they could holiday shop for items like these at The Nest.

BONNERS FERRY — Bonners Ferry is a small town, with many local small businesses, and the people here embrace that small-town feel. Part of the joy of a small town is the support given to one another, and the 9B Ladies on the Loose event — part of the Hometown Holidays on Dec. 7, put on by the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce — allowed the community to do just that.

This was the second year for the fledgling event, and it did not disappoint.

“We were hoping it would be as good as last year, and it has been as good or better,” said Under the Sun co-owner Kendall Cady.

The event consisted of nine local businesses being designated as stamp destinations. Participants started at any one of these stores and picked up a map and had it stamped. Then they took the map to each of the other businesses and received a stamp from each one. At the end, they turned in the maps with a chance of winning a drawing for holiday cash.

“They are Holiday Bucks that they can spend at any of the stamping locations,” said organizer Lisa Dirks. “They will be in small increments so they can stop at more than one business.”

More than 100 people participated in the event and 50 completed maps were turned in. Linda Miller won the top prize of $100 Holiday Bucks, with Dona Kent taking second prize of $75 Holiday Bucks, and Cheryl Britton took the third prize of $50 Holiday Bucks. The Holiday Bucks can be used at any of the nine participating businesses.

“It was a great day,” said Dirks. “At one point, when I came in, all of the streets were filled with cars. There was not a place to park — it was awesome.”

The event benefits the businesses, with some even being discovered for the first time by customers.

“Some of them said that customers came in and said they didn’t even know that the store was there,” said Dirks. “That is part of what this is all about — getting the shoppers out and having them go places that may not have necessarily gone — and starting from one part of the town to the other, so they go through the whole town and maybe make extra stops along the way.”

There were other incentives for the shoppers as well, from snacks to free Mimosas and Bloody Marys at Under the Sun.

“It has been a blast — not as big as last year, but still great vendors, great businesses to visit, and great food,” said shopper Lori Werder, who completed her map with her girlfriends. “I will do it next year — it is a tradition now.”

Last year they had more businesses to get stamps at, but this year they made the list smaller so it was easier for people to complete. Dirks said it was difficult to narrow it down, as she did not want to leave anyone out, but they made it an option to get bonus stamps from other locations — which many people did.

The businesses saw an increase in shoppers due to the event, making it fun for everyone involved.

“Today has been wonderful. We had a great crowd and great support from the community. It has been really nice. It definitely worked to bring people in,” said Kelly Wilson, co-owner of The Nest. “It was a better shopping Saturday than normal.”

The businesses were quick to sing praises for Dirks’ hard work and effort that she put in to bring the event together.

“We would like to thank Lisa for all of her hard work,” said Wilson. “This was absolutely amazing. If it wasn’t for her then we would not be doing this.”

“It is just awesome that she puts it together because we know it is hard,” said Cady. “It is cool that she takes the time to put it all together.”

Following in the footsteps of a successful event for the second year in a row, businesses and shoppers both look forward to continuing the new tradition.

“I have gotten a lot of really good feedback from customers, saying that it is so much fun,” said Dirks. “They get to go out with their girlfriends and it is just a nice day to spend together and go have something to eat.”