Jacksonville launches Shop Small, Win Big promotion this Black Friday

The Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announced a new promotion designed to steer holiday spending toward locally owned businesses, with the initiative set to begin on Black Friday. The program called Shop Small, Win Big invites shoppers who spend $25 or more at any small locally owned business or restaurant in Jacksonville to submit a photo of their receipt for a chance to win weekly cash prizes.

Entry options include sending a receipt photo via Facebook or Instagram message, emailing visitors@jacksonvilleil.org, or texting a photo to 371-2602. Each week a $250 winner from the entries will be selected, and the local business listed on the winning receipt will also receive $250. To draw visitors from outside the city, out of town shoppers receive two entries per qualifying receipt when they provide proof of residency. More details are available at jacksonvilleil.org.

The timing targets a critical window for retail sales. Black Friday marks the start of the concentrated holiday shopping period, when local merchants typically rely on increased consumer traffic to carry them through the season. By setting a modest $25 qualifying purchase threshold and offering matched prizes for businesses, the campaign seeks to convert one time shoppers into repeat customers while directly supporting small business cash flow.

For Morgan County residents the promotion carries several immediate implications. Consumers get a new reason to choose local shops over national chains, increasing the odds local dollars will circulate within the community. Small business owners stand to gain not only from the direct $250 business award, but from the visibility generated when customers share purchases on social platforms and via the JACVB entry channels. The two entry incentive for visitors also aims to broaden the customer base for downtown and neighborhood businesses, potentially drawing increased overnight or day trip spending into restaurants and retailers.

The administrative simplicity of the program lowers the barrier to participation for both shoppers and businesses. Weekly prize pacing keeps momentum through the holiday period, and the required proof of purchase creates a clear audit trail for prize awarding. Organizers are promoting the program online and through social channels to maximize reach during the key shopping weeks.

The program was reported by WLDS on November 18, 2025. Residents interested in participating should plan purchases after the Black Friday launch and consult jacksonvilleil.org for full rules and deadlines.