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Shoppers to vote in Plant City Christmas tree contest

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By DAVE NICHOLSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 16, 2009

PLANT CITY - A leading business organization plans to give Christmas shoppers another reason to shop locally this holiday season.

Local merchants will compete in a Christmas tree decorating contest and customers' votes will determine the winners. Customers who visit all the participating merchants can enter a drawing for a $150 gift card.

The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce is ringing in the new contest just as the holiday shopping season unfolds.

"This will bring the public into your business," chamber volunteer Bruce Rodwell told chamber members at a Nov. 11 breakfast meeting.

"The name of the game is to get people to come into your business."

The contest will be limited to the first 20 merchants who sign up, Rodwell said. The deadline to enter is Friday.
The businesses that participate will pay a $30 entry fee. They can decorate any size or kind of tree, real or artificial.

Customers will be given cards on which they can vote for their favorite. Each merchant will give out stickers that can be affixed to the card so those customers who visit all 20 businesses can enter a drawing as well as cast a vote.

Trophies will be awarded for first-, second- and third-place finishers.

The trees will be on display at participating merchants from Nov. 30 through Dec. 18. The drawing for the gift card and winning trees will be selected Dec. 21, Rodwell said.

Merchants wanting more information should contact the chamber of commerce at (813) 754-3707. Entry forms are available at the chamber's office at 106 N. Evers St.

Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 627-4727.

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