LOVE Campaign to Benefit Students, Local Businesses

San Marcos residents and students are asked to show their love for downtown retailers this February as the City’s Main Street Program kicks off the LOVE Downtown campaign.

February is a month of love and romance, now also a month of giveaways to encourage shopping in the downtown district. The San Marcos Main Street Program launched LOVE Downtown campaign for the first time in city’s history. For every $25 spent at a downtown business during the month of February, shoppers may share a picture of their receipt to be entered into a drawing, The drawing will take place every Friday for weekly prizes and a grand cash prize on February 28. Pictures can be shared via all social media outlets with #LOVEsmtx as well as through text and e-mail messages. Main Street Program manager Samantha Armbruster said it is important to support local businesses because they are a big part of the community.

“These local businesses not only are hiring locals but they also are giving back to our community as well. So they are important for our town’s character, they are important for the support of our community. They embody the spirit of San Marcos, which is friendly, full of character and interesting.”
– Samantha Armbruster

A Cash Mob will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, February 14 in businesses on North LBJ corner. A Cash Mob is a concentrated period of time where shoppers are asked to make purchases at local retailers to show their support. During this time, participants can also leave ‘LOVE notes’ inside retailers, sign the LOVE Downtown mural, take fun pictures in a photo booth and enjoy free cocoa and snacks. Main Street Program coordinator Kayli Head said local businesses especially need the support due to the construction in the downtown area.

“Supporting them through this construction is going to be so vital to their success. They understand what to come from this construction, it’s going to be so great when it’s finished, wide sidewalks, café space, really an inevitable walkable environment. It’s just weathering that time to get there is a little tough.”
– Kavli Head

Shoppers can also show their love and support by voting for their favorite downtown store. The business with the most votes will also receive a cash prize.

Veronika Kondratieva, KTSW News