The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce’s Holiday Gift Card Match Day is back on Thursday, December 5, 2024, and if past years are any indication, you might want to get there early.
This year, the program is sponsored in full by UMassFive College Credit Union with a $5,000 match.
Over the years, this event has become a beloved holiday tradition for locals eager to support small businesses. In past years, it has drawn lines of eager shoppers that wrapped around the block, highlighting the community’s enthusiasm for supporting small businesses.
Starting at 9 AM at the Visitors Information Center (35 South Pleasant Street, Amherst), community members can purchase a $25 Amherst Area Gift Card for $26 (including a $1 processing fee). Each card is loaded with $50 to spend at participating local businesses. Shoppers can purchase up to two cards per person, while supplies last.
For small businesses in the Amherst area, this initiative provides meaningful support by driving foot traffic and spending directly into the local economy.
“Gift Card Match Day is more than just an opportunity to shop—it’s a celebration of the incredible diversity and resilience of our local businesses,” said Jacob Robinson, Executive Director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.
Craig A. Boivin, Vice President of Marketing at UMassFive, echoed the sentiment: “Gift Card Match Day represents a wonderful opportunity to uplift local businesses during the holiday season, fostering a sense of community and economic resilience. By doubling the impact of each purchase, we make it easier for people to shop local and give meaningful gifts to loved ones.”
Over the Connecticut River, The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce offers a similar gift card program with the same aim of supporting businesses in the City of Northampton, MA.
For more information on Amherst’s Gift Card Match Day, including a list of participating businesses, visit www.amherstarea.com/giftcard or call 413-253-0700.
