Irene Cards FAQs

Here are some questions and details about our new Farmers’ Market Irene Card Program.

What in the world is an Irene Card?
It’s a prepaid shopping/gift card. You purchase now, shop later. We are also offering 10% off of all purchases with that card once the Market opens again sometime in December.  With cards over $1,000 you’ll get a 15% discount on purchases! You can purchase a card with many different denominations--from $25 to $5,000.

Who can purchase one?
Anyone who wants to help WFM during this great time of need can purchase a card. We are offering the cards until October 15, 2011.  

Where can I purchase an Irene Card?
We are offering them on our website. Just visit http://www.woodstockfarmersmarket.com/Irene_GiftCard.aspx

We will then mail you a temporary card—our plastic cards got washed away in the flood.  We will have more cards printed up closer to our reopen date and will mail you an official one—or you can pick one up in the store when we reopen.

If you prefer to order an Irene Card over the phone, please call 802-457-3658, leave your name and a phone number where we can reach you, and we will call you back. If you wish to pay by check, please make it payable to the Woodstock Famers’ Market, and mail it to 979 West Woodstock Rd. Woodstock, VT 05091. 

Why are you guys offering this now? You are not even open.
We’re trying to open as fast as possible. One of our challenges is finding revenue sources. While we were insured, we won’t see those monies till December at the earliest. And we probably won’t get the policy limits due to internal adjustments that insurance companies are notorious for. While we are trying to secure other disaster relief monies, there are no grants available for businesses. All disaster monies are loans and while the terms are pretty favorable, the money still needs to be paid back at some point. Fresh off our renovation 3 months ago, we are almost maxed out on our bank loans. We need cash to begin renovations and to re-open as soon as possible.

What work needs to be done now?
We need to order equipment now—it takes approximately 10 weeks for some equipment to be delivered from the factory. Even if we secure some good used equipment, we need to research, find and then pay for them up front. The motors or compressors that run these coolers need replacing too. These sat outside and got completely ruined by the floodwaters. Our buildings are completely decimated on the inside. All electric, much of the plumbing and most of the HVAC system need replacing. All walls need to be demolished and rebuilt. And all inventory needs to be repurchased.

Is this a donation?
No. It’s pre-buying bread, fish, fresh meats, local cheeses and produce, prepared foods and all the great items we normally have in stock. We realize that during this great time of need in Vermont, asking for money is difficult. This format allows you to help now, save and shop later.

How will I actually get it?
We will mail your card and you can use it as soon as we reopen. Once we reopen you may also drop by the store and pick it up, just let us know.

Why raise cash this way? Don’t you guys have other sources of funding? We do. We’ve applied to the SBA—the arm of FEMA that handles business disasters. We’ve received some monies from VEDA, the Vermont Economic Development Authority. We have the local banks to help us too. But all these sources are monies that must be paid back, with interest, and we are ever aware of our own mounting debt crisis! Plus it takes time to get these monies. We were insured, but we’ve been warned that we won’t see much until December at the earliest. We are trying to get WFM back to its old self as fast as possible.

Can I just give a gift too?
Sure. We’ve had lots of inquiries from customers that just want to give with no strings attached.  We’ll gladly accept any denomination. Please email us at mail@woodstockfarmersmarket.com with your name and phone number and we will call you to discuss.  You may also call Patrick directly at 802-356-4609. 

Are there any strings attached to the card?
Nope. You will have an ID number in our system and when you get to the register we will either have a card for you to swipe or an ID number that you will have and your discount will automatically be applied at checkout.

Are there any exclusions to the 10% discounts?
Newspapers, magazines and items that are already on sale.

Will I be able to use this for Mail Order on line?
Yes. Unfortunately though, our shopping cart can’t handle the Irene Card transaction on-line. Please place your Irene Card ID number in the gift note field at checkout and we will process the credit manually. The credit amount will show up as a separate transaction on your cc statement.

How long will the cards be valid?
They will be valid for three years from the date of our reopen. 

Here is the our required Disclaimer Language
While Irene Cards will be limited in production, the expiration date for each card is 3 years by Vermont statute. This will be clearly marked on each card. Following the expiration date of the card, the unused portion of the card shall be returned to the holder, if requested. The card is not redeemable for cash at any time, and can only be used and redeemed for "in-store" or "on-line" purchases of goods and services. The card and its terms are specifically connected with WFM's Irene Card program designed to raise capital for WFM during its closure due to the floodwaters from Tropical Storm Irene on August 28^th 2011. Certain rules and terms as explained above specifically refer to this shopping/gift card program and are not intended to apply to all WFM gift certificates at prior or future dates.

Learn more about Woodstock's devastation from Irene...a video from NECN.

Vermont with flood devastaion from Irene