With Christmas just days away, small businesses in New Bern are enticing last-minute shoppers with a unique incentive. A punch card featuring six local businesses offers a chance to win a prize for those who shop at all participating stores.

The initiative, designed to promote shopping small this holiday season, connects businesses from Trent Road to the downtown area. The participating shops include Small Batch, Lula Balou, Sun Bern, Le Petit Bisou, Blue Magnolia, and Cork Wine and Bistro.

Page Litfin, owner of Sun Bern, a beach and athleisure shop, said, “This was just a little, I don’t know probably late night, laying in bed, thinking of how can we um—be mutually beneficial to one each—one another as small businesses during the holiday season.”

Litfin, whose store has been open since March, emphasized the importance of collaboration, saying, “Just when the business started, collaboration was everything.”

Erin Vann, owner of Le Petit Bisou, which offers children’s clothing, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. “It’s a fun way to get more people into businesses and it kind of just spreading the wealth around New Bern—you know,” she said.

Both business owners agree that supporting the local economy is crucial. Vann added, “Local economy is everything, I think you should always support the home team before you support big box.”

Litfin echoed this sentiment, saying the goal is “to help everybody grow and have a successful holiday shopping season.”

Shoppers have until December 20 to complete their punch cards and enter to win a $50 gift card from one of the six businesses.