Scavenger hunt will have people standing on their heads

ST. CLAIR – The Yoga Studio of St. Clair is challenging people to strike a pose to promote small businesses.

The Yoga Scavenger Hunt requires participants to do a yoga pose in front of each business the clue leads to, then post the pose on Facebook, tagging the business and the Yoga Room, 201 N. Riverside Ave., St. Clair.

Yoga Room owner Sarah Skinner said she has gotten a lot of support from local businesses.

She said her goal is to have 30 businesses participate. So far, 18 have signed up — from Port Huron south to Marine City.

"One of the biggest challenges facing an entrepreneur can be marketing, advertising and getting customers," said Michael Rogers, Small Business Association of Michigan vice president of communications. "When businesses work together, they can share ideas to solve these problems."

Rogers said turning to an activity driven by social media, such as the yoga scavenger hunt, is an innovative way to tap into customer interest. He said such a marketing campaign is perfect for young customers.

"Sometimes you see businesses in competition with each other, but working together like this actually is more beneficial because they are working together to expose each other, which increases foot traffic," Rogers said. "It's a great way to draw customers back from the big box stores."

Participants need to go to www.yogaroomsc.com to register for the scavenger hunt. It costs $10 to register.

The hunt begins April 1, Skinner said.

While the scavenger hunt doesn't begin until April, participants are encouraged to sign up early. If participants register by the end of the first week of March they will receive a free Yoga Room shirt. Late registration will continue until the end of March.

Each clue will lead participants to one of the 30 businesses. For every clue participants figure out, they will be entered into a raffle to win a prize. If participants solve all 30 clues and get photos in front of all 30 businesses they can receive a free month of yoga lessons at the Yoga Studio.

"This will get people into shops that may never have been to that particular shop before," said Dan Lockwood, St. Clair Downtown Development Authority chairman.

Lockwood said the only other instance where he remembers businesses working together in a similar manner is during the Gourmet Gala.

"This event is great, though, because it is not just contained to St. Clair, but expands up to Port Huron and down to Marine City as well," he said. "We always like to see business owners take initiative like this."

Lockwood said downtown success is driven by businesses working together.

"It doesn't matter if you know anything about yoga," Skinner said in a press release. "Google a few easy poses and have fun. Everyone is invited to join in the fun ... the more players, the more exposure for local businesses."

For more information, call (810) 941-4690.

Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or nhayden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleHayden_TH.

MORE INFORMATION

YOGA SCAVENGER HUNT

•To sign up for the Yoga Scavenger Hunt, go to www.yogaroomsc.com. It costs $10 to register.

•Call (810) 941-4690.