Gunnedah shire shoppers will have the chance to win more than $7000 in prizes after the Gunnedah Times shop local ‘Collective Christmas’ promotion officially started on Thursday.

This year’s initiative by Collective Media features 10 outlets.

In addition to the first prize of $3000 to spend at participating businesses, second prize is a getaway to a stay at Wilderluxe (Lake Keepit) where luxury meets wilderness, third prize is $1000, fourth and fifth prize is $500 each and sixth to tenth prize is $200 each.

All prizes with a cash value will be in the form of Why Leave Town gift cards specially programmed for the Gunnedah Times to be spent at the participating stores.

The Gunnedah Times advertising consultant Leah James emphasised the importance of supporting local businesses which are the backbone of the shire economy.

“We are lucky to have so many hard-working businesses here in Gunnedah,” she said.

“Run by local people living in the local region, they offer quality products and services to their customers.

“The Gunnedah Times is urging Christmas shoppers to look to our local businesses and families when it comes to all your gift needs.

“Every dollar spent in this town is money reinvested into our local community.

“Let’s try and support more businesses in the Gunnedah shire all through the year as well, not just at Christmas.”

The promotion will run until December 12, with prizes to be drawn at the Gunnedah Times on Friday, December 12.

Participating businesses: Auto Pro, Carter’s Pharmacy, Club Gunnedah, Fogarty Fotos, Goodness & Gracious, Gunnedah Discount Drug Store, Gunnedah Newsagency, Plants for You, Regency Jewellers and Streater Family Butchery.

Shell Elf on the Shelf

This year’s Gunnedah Times “Collective Christmas” promotion is offering a new competition to readers. As part of the promotion to encourage locals to ‘shop local’ Shell Gunnedah has sponsored ‘Shell Elf on a Shelf’. Shell Elf on a Shelf gives readers a chance to win a $100 fuel voucher each week for 10 weeks.

The idea behind Shell Elf on a Shelf is simple – Find the Shell Elf. Each week Shell Elf will appear in store in one of the Gunnedah businesses participating in the “Collective Christmas” promotion.

Every week a coupon will be printed in The Gunnedah Times asking which store Shell Elf has been spotted in.

Readers simply fill in the form (original forms only accepted) and deposit into the entry box on reception at Gunnedah Times naming the store he was sighted in.

Prior to printing entries will be sorted, and the winning entry will be drawn from the correct answers. The winner will be contacted by phone and published in the newspaper.

There is no easier way to fill your fuel tank. Visit participating businesses throughout the promotion, find ‘Shell Elf on the Shelf’ and fill in your entry form.

Participating businesses include Auto Pro, Carter’s Pharmacy, Fogarty Fotos, Goodness & Gracious, Club Gunnedah, Gunnedah Discount Drug Store, Gunnedah Newsagency, Plants for You, Regency Jewellers and Streater Family Butchery.

The ‘Shell Elf on a Shelf’ promotion runs until December 12.