Great Neck merchants take a chance on love
Michele Lynn, of Michele Lynn Precious Jewels is among 200 merchants in Great Neck Plaza participating in a Valentine's Day offer to shoppers. (Feb. 8, 2010) Credit: Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan
Business has been tough these past few years, concedes Michele Lynn, owner with her husband, Shawn, of Michele Lynn Precious Jewels in Great Neck Plaza.
But the jeweler is one of about 200 businesses in the Plaza to sign up for a Valentine's Day week campaign to get shoppers, if not in a loving mood, then in more of a spending mood.
The village's Business Improvement District has organized a program that will give one lucky shopper a $1,000 shopping spree at Plaza stores. Shoppers need only spend $15 or more at any one of the shops in the Plaza, said business district director Ron Edelson. Shoppers can enter only once for the grand prize.
The $15 must be spent Saturday, Sunday or Valentine's Day, which is Monday. Edelson said business district officials will go around and collect entries on Tuesday.
"The merchants have told me things have started to pick up, slowly," Edelson said. "But it's not over the top. The normal has shifted, and we're adjusting to that."
E. Christopher Murray, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, said downtown merchants must take advantage of any opportunity to draw in local shoppers.
"If there's a time of year you can use to promote, you've got to do it," Murray said.
Is Lynn optimistic the Valentine's Day plan will do some good? "I hope so," she said. You've got to be positive."
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