Auction Okanagan helps local businesses and consumers

Now, more than ever, local businesses need our support – but the cash crunch caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt in all our pocketbooks.

The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group (JPBG) is stepping in as a community partner to offer a solution that will benefit both businesses and consumers as we support the continued reopening of the Okanagan.

“It’s really good for small businesses that are mindful of their cashflow especially during this particular time. It’s a great stimulus package for the area,” said Okanagan Sales Manager for JPBG Bryan Ford.

JPBG’s ‘Auction Okanagan.com’ has been a welcomed economic boost to the area for the last 4 years. The public can log on to the site, create an account and start bidding on goods and services within minutes. Every single item starts at a dollar and Ford said consumers see savings anywhere from 30 to 75 per cent on various products including restaurants, golf courses, furniture and vacation rentals. In exchange, the businesses who supply auction items are given the equal value in advertising dollars on local radio, regardless of the winning bid price.

“There are a lot of businesses whose cashflow has been nonexistent because of COVID-19. They’ve been closed and haven’t been taking in any revenues,” said Ford. “So in an effort to get the word out that they’re open or maybe they want to send a message to the public explaining how they’re following COVID-19 safety protocols…just to get back in business, its probably one of the best ways to do it if cash is at a crunch.”

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The expansive reach that JPBG provides through our multiple radio stations and online news portal, Vernon Matters, will also help expand the customer base for our business partners.

The auction is scheduled to run from September 16th to 22nd and will present over $200,000 dollars in products, services and gift cards and bidders can feel good knowing their e-commerce support is going to local businesses and staying in our communities.

The auction includes hundreds of items including some unique offerings:

• A 12′ x 16 ‘ cabin shell from Knotty Pine Cabins.
  A ready to go cabin shell perfect for a guest house or lake lot.
• A six month Soul Studio Membership.
• A 1550 dollar gift certificate from The Tile Guy.
• A Broil King Pellet Pro XL Grill from Applewood Heating and Air Conditioning.

“We need to work together to recover from the impacts of this pandemic and we’re happy to offer our business partners an opportunity to reconnect with their customers,” said Ford.

AuctionOkanagan.com will begin on September 16th. The highest bidders will be notified by email.

Any businesses interested in participating can contact Bryan Ford, General Sales Manager for the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group at bryan.ford@jpbg.ca