CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Those who have a heart for downtown Chambersburg businesses can display it in numerous ways, thanks to some creative collaboration.
A website debuting two weeks ago - DowntownStrong.ItemOrder.com - features apparel and mugs bearing a logo created by Doug Counts, Andrea “Andi” Finch and Sam Thrush. The design features the downtown streetscape and iconic fountain.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Those who have a heart for downtown Chambersburg businesses can display it in numerous ways, thanks to some creative collaboration.
A website debuting two weeks ago - DowntownStrong.ItemOrder.com - features apparel and mugs bearing a logo created by Doug Counts, Andrea “Andi” Finch and Sam Thrush. The design features the downtown streetscape and iconic fountain.
From the web portal, people can choose from T-shirts for $20; crew-neck sweatshirts for $30; hooded sweatshirts for $35; and tumblers/mugs to hold 30 ounces of beverages for $30; 20 ounces ($25); and 12 ounces ($20). There is a $10 flat fee for shipping, but products also may be picked up from 9 a.m. to noon from Mondays through Wednesdays at Beam Graphix Custom Print Co. at 29 S. Main St. in Chambersburg. If those times aren’t convenient, appointments can be made to retrieve orders by calling Counts, owner of Beam Graphix.
About 50 percent of the proceeds will be used to buy gift cards to downtown businesses, which have taken a significant financial hit due to the closing of nonessential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. The gift cards will be given to local health systems, WellSpan Health and Keystone Health. Based on how many are purchased, they will be shared with employees as a token of appreciation for the countless hours they have worked during the crisis.
“It’s a fundraising campaign that has multiple beneficiaries,” Thrush, president of Downtown Chambersburg Inc. (DCI), said of the Downtown Strong movement.
In addition to the health care workers, those beneficiaries include the retail businesses downtown that have lost money during the pandemic and Beam Graphix, which will keep some of the profits from selling the merchandise. Thrush said he hopes to raise at least $1,000 so that one hundred, $10 gift cards can be purchased.
“The more we sell, the better,” Thrush said. “It’s a win, win, win, in my mind.”
The effort builds on the e-gift card campaign created by DCI and the Downtown Business Council of Chambersburg (DBC) to sell gift cards for local businesses online through Shopify. The DBC - for which Finch serves as event coordinator - is offering online shoppers who buy a gift card worth $50 or more from a business listed on the Shopify page a $25 bonus gift card for that business, while supplies last.
Counts said the shift in the business climate since COVID-19 restrictions were put in place in mid-March has been a “whirlwind. It’s been a struggle for everybody. Everything was going smoothly … there was a good feeling among downtown. It just took a turn for the worse.”
But the downtown business community is a family that will come out stronger together.
“We’re going to fight for what we have, like everyone else. Downtown is a special area,” Counts said.
To place an order for Downtown Strong items, go to DowntownStrong.ItemOrder.com. To arrange for pickup of merchandise after buying, call 717-660-2727; email beamgraphix@gmail.com; or go to Facebook.com/beamgraphix.
For more information about the Downtown Strong campaign, go to DowntownChambersburgPa.com/Downtown-Strong or call 717-264-7101, ext. 204.