Business: Rewarding Year-rounders, Chatham Business Offers Incentives For Residents, Businesses

Even though the shoulder seasons have become busier in recent years, Lower Cape businesses can still struggle to remain open year-round. 

 Lindsay and Fred Bierwirth know this firsthand. In their business, Chatham Works, they see the seasonal swings in customers and struggle to maintain the business year round. They keep their staff on throughout the year and work to build year-round clientele to counter the seasonal fluctuations.

 “It can be like swimming against the tide,” said Lindsay.

 As an incentive for their year-round customers, and to promote other local businesses struggling to remain open year round, they recently began a program called Local Offers. Through the program, customers who have annual memberships receive discounts or other special offers at participating year-round businesses. 

 Businesses have the option of targeting their participation any way they see fit, offering discounts on purchases or special deals on specific days or times. There’s no cost for businesses to participate and the offers can be revised up to four times per year.

More than a dozen local businesses have signed up so far, ranging from food and drink, clothing and accessories and home and pet product outlets. A full list of participating businesses is available at chathamworks.com.

The idea is to create community partnerships, Lindsay said, by encouraging other businesses to give back to the local residents that support them year round. The program also adds value to annual memberships, she added.

The business has been using social media and email to promote the program, and Lindsay spends several afternoons a week visiting local businesses to introduce them to the program. Businesses throughout the Lower Cape are being asked if they want to participate.

 “We are first and foremost a year-round business,” Lindsay said. “And we want to be a cornerstone of the community.” Modeling running a year-round business that keeps its staff during the off-season and reaching out to partner with other year-round businesses is part of that.

 “We celebrate the seasonal businesses, too,” added Fred. “But it just seems like the year-round businesses don’t get the attention.”

Chatham Works, which is both a gym and a co-working space, also promotes local artists with rotating displays and hosts community programs like Music Together. 

 “We always wanted to be a melting pot,” said Fred.

Businesses interested in participating in the Local Offers program can contact Chatham Works at lindsayfred@chathamworks.com.