OLEAN, N.Y. — Starting May 2, purchases of the popular Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce gift certificates will have a service fee of 5% on the total of certificates purchased. Although the gift certificate program is easy to use for the purchaser or the one that receives it as a gift, the behind-the-scenes expenses to operate the program have increased.

Meme Krahe Yanetsko, GOACC COO reported, “Since 1995, our sales continued to grow, with an all-time high of $490,000 in 1999. In 2021, sales capped at $426,600 with the majority of sales in December at $184,205.

“The program which is one of the biggest benefits to our Chamber members is a retention tool then a revenue maker for the Chamber office. We certainly don’t want to make money on this program; however, we want to cover the staff time (bookkeeping, accounting, purchasing), paper and envelope costs, and the certificate printing fees involved with the program,” added Yanetsko.

The Chamber of Commerce instituted the Gift Certificate Program in 1995 and that year, certificates totaling $9,000 were sold with 35 member businesses involved in the program. More than 270 member businesses are signed on for this year-round certificate program. The certificates are sold in increments of $5, $10, $20, $25 and $50.

“The uniqueness of the program is that it encourages redeemers of the certificates to discover products and services available at businesses in our area, businesses that support the Chamber of Commerce. After all, it is good business to do business with Chamber members,” said Erica Dreher, GOACC member services manager.

Dreher added, “The Chamber has established three ways to purchase the Shop Olean gift certificates: stop in the Chamber; call in order with curbside delivery; or go online to shop.oleanny.com.”

GOACC office hours are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information on Chamber gift certificates, please stop in GOACC at 301 North Union Street, Olean, or call (716) 372-4433.