Over 160 businesses signed up for radiothon

The goal was $40,000, but by the weekend the “Share the Luv” campaign had raised nearly $45,000 for the gift card promotion.
 “It looks like it’s going to be an outstanding promotion,” said Rick Peterson, general manager of the Rock County Star Herald, which is teaming up with the Chamber and KQAD-K101 for the upcoming radiothon to sell gift cards.
Nearly 170 Rock County businesses (see the back page listing) are participating in the promotion that encourages customers to buy gift cards now to use any time in the future when stay-at-home orders are lifted.
“It’s a way to drive people to our local businesses,” said Chamber Director Jane Wildung Lanphere. “I don’t want people shopping on Amazon or in Sioux Falls. I want them to shop here.”
As part of the campaign, the local partners created the “Share the Luv Fund” to kick in extra money for gift card shoppers to go to businesses.
For every $100 in gift cards purchased, the customer gets $25 extra. The buyer gets $50 extra for each $200 purchased, $75 extra for a $300 purchase, $100 extra for each $400, and $125 extra for every $500 in gift cards purchased until the “Share the LUV” fund is gone.
The maximum amount one person can buy from one business is $500. There is no limit to the total amount of gift cards purchased. 
A live KQAD/KLQL radiothon will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 16, and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19.
Buyers will have a chance to purchase gift cards from the local businesses, and Share the Luv fund will kick in extra cash to help the merchants. 
There is no cost for businesses to participate, and the Chamber and partners are not taking any proceeds.
“We are excited to have 168 Rock County businesses participating in this campaign,” Lanphere said.
“The campaign’s goal is to sell $180,000 in gift cards and use all the $45,000 matching funds to put $225,000 in the pockets of our small businesses.”
 Businesses need to sign up in order to be part of the #strongertogether gift card campaign by calling the Chamber, 507-283-4061, or emailing luvernechamber@co.rock.mn.us.
“We want all Rock County businesses to participate and hope that we can sell $100,000 in gift cards or certificates,” Lanphere said.
The telethon will also be promoted through the Chamber, Star Herald and KQAD/KLQL in print, on air and online through June 5, and the Chamber will continue the campaign until all the “Share the Luv” funds are gone.
People can order gift cards or gift certificates from the Chamber (the list is on www.luvernechamber.com) through the mail, email or by calling 507-283-4061 beginning May 16.
After June 5, staff will contact merchants with the total number of $25 gift cards purchased from their businesses, and the Chamber will arrange pickup and payment of those cards by check through the Chamber office.  
“Our goal is to have a check in your hand and all gift cards mailed out to purchasers by June 12,” Lanphere wrote in a letter to businesses.
She said government programs are offering some aid, but she said it won’t come soon enough. “The goal is to inject much needed cash flow into our local Rock County businesses right now,” she said.
If all the money from the “Share the Luv” fund isn’t spent, another sales drive will be organized for later June, July, August etc. until all the funds are gone.
Peterson said he was pleased, but not necessarily surprised, by the generosity of donors to the “Share the Luv” fund. “I would never expect it, because it’s a lot of money,” he said.
“But I’m seeing how people are stepping up for the Community Foundation’s campaign for non-profits, and I’ve seen how people are supporting the graduation banners and signs.”