This year started strong in town with Moonlight Madness, an event focusing on Revelstoke downtown businesses concurring with Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s opening weekend.
Clothing and gear
Organizers of the 43rd annual Moonlight Madness and Style Trend Clothiers owners Diane and Steve Bull happily announced they hit their goals.
“We have seen people coming all day long which is really nice,” said Steve on Nov. 29, the day of Moonlight Madness.
“People stopped by on their way to their morning coffee and came back later on to purchase what they were looking for,” Diane added.
Jordan Bott, co-owner of Universal Footwear, expressed enthusiasm regarding Moonlight Madness, noting that it typically increases foot traffic to his store by five to six times.
Similarly, Steve Cross, owner of Revy Outdoors, and Marie Moose, co-founder and board member of the Local Co-op Art Gallery, noted the event boosted their sales, exceeding average levels.
“Our traffic [at the co-op] is a good blend of locals and visitors. During the shoulder season, we still see a lot of people from B.C and Alberta, passing through Revy on their way to their destination,” Moose said.
Hospitality and tourism
If retailers easily recognized the benefits of Moonlight Madness 2024, it wasn’t as evident for some hospitality and other business types. Various events also unfolded on the evening of Nov. 29, attracting residents and visitors to attend different activities. Most of the customers that day were residents, showcasing a vibrant connection with the community.
Love Local Revy
Previously, during the whole month of November, the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce’s Love Local Revy initiative has increased local spending during the town’s slower economic periods.
The program, funded for a year by the Columbia Basin Trust and Community Futures, was held in the spring and fall of 2024, offering the chance to win local prizes for every purchase made in a participating physical storefront. Each of the six prize packs had a value of $600, offering various interests for outdoor adventures, food and wellness lovers and making them great potential Christmas gifts.
While statistics from the fall campaign were not available prior to publication, the spring edition proved to be successful.
“[Spring] is a time of the year when things are ramping up,” Joe Regan, project support at the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce said, reporting 3,200 ballots collected from 50 participating businesses. An additional ten have joined the November chapter.
“The prizes are amazing! It is a great way to make our customers feel appreciated,” Bull mentioned.
The fall campaign ran until Nov. 29, which overlapped with the early holiday shopping season.
The program aims to secure funding for a one-time 2025 campaign. Love Local Revy tote bags are available at the Revelstoke Business & Visitors Information Center, with all profits returning to the initiative.November 2024 was also busier for the Business & Visitors Information Center compared to the same period last year — 1,317 visitors crossed its doors on Victoria road, a 78 per cent increase from last November according to the Chamber of Commerce statistics.
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