The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce joined Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and the Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, local Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and merchant groups, elected officials and local business owners outside of the Greenlight Bookstore in Fort Greene to kick off the Shop Brooklyn campaign for the 2009 holiday season yesterday.

In its second year, Shop Brooklyn is a boroughwide initiative launched by the Brooklyn Borough President's office to bring awareness to Brooklyn's diverse and unique shopping districts and retail businesses during the holiday season to encourage year-round shopping.  As part of the campaign, Brooklyn retailers and service providers will offer special "Brooklyn bonuses" starting November 27 ("Black Friday") through December 25.  Participating businesses will display Shop Brooklyn decals in their store windows and also have a listing on the program's Web site at http://www.ishopbrooklyn.com/.  There is no charge to businesses to join the program.

Special events will be hosted at different neighborhood locations throughout the monthlong promotion.  The campaign will be supported by media coverage, including print, broadcast and online/social media advertisements and promotions.

For more information about Shop Brooklyn or to find out how your business can participate, contact Carlos Menchaca at (718) 802-3642.  You may also join the Shop Brooklyn cause on Facebook here:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/153203/30445071?m=e56504ed or
http://www.facebook.com/shopbrooklyn, and follow them on Twitter at @ishopbrooklyn.