The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce is paying out rewards to customers who shop locally and post a photo on social media with their purchase by using the hashtag #BuyBeachesFirst.
"The odds of you winning a prize is very (much) in your favor," said Julianne Wilhelm, the chamber's member support contact. "Buy Beaches First is a local campaign that encourages customers to shop locally at the beach businesses."
This is the first year the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber has launched the shop local campaign on Twitter and Facebook. It runs from Nov. 10 through Dec. 31, from Clearwater south to Pass-A-Grille. Winners are drawn every Monday and can receive prizes from jewelry, gift certificates and stays at the Hotel Zamora in St. Pete Beach.
"It includes dinner at Castile Restaurant," said Tom Robertson, Hotel Zamora's general manager. "That's our award-winning restaurant here on the second floor of the property."
Wendy Schechner was one of the first local shoppers to win a $50 gift certificate to Billy's Stone Crab.
"We actually did three entries in a matter of a couple of hours," she said. "It was actually pretty fun."
Pinellas beach business owners say they're excited about the campaign because sometimes locals forget shopping at the beaches isn't just for tourists.
"I think there’s a lot more out here than people realize," said Lisa Coleman, owner of The Spice & Tea Exchange at John's Pass. "What do you buy people that have everything? You buy them stuff to cook with, and then they hopefully invite you over to eat it."
Wilhelm said it's a great way to funnel money back into the community, too.
"There is a study that for every $100 spent locally, $45 of that is reinvested back into the community," she said.
The Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce said the shop local campaign is phase 1 of the program. They plan to roll out two more phases next year.