What’s a Good News Bag?
Back in February 2020, NJ Pen won a competitive grant from the Center for Cooperative Media that was designed to bring us closer to the communities that we cover, and grow our subscriber base there.
We pitched a promotion called “The Good News Box,” our riff on curated gift lines like Birchbox, Stitch Fix, and BarkBox.
That evolved into the “Good News Bag,” a locally printed gift tote stuffed with a selection of surprises from local small businesses.
Every bag includes a three-month trial subscription to NJ Pen for new subscribers to keep up with the independent local reporting we’ve been producing for the last 11 years — much of which focuses on small businesses in Camden County.
The 2020 project was so well-received that we decided to run it again in 2021. After a few years off, we brought it back this year.
Why did we do this?
The holiday shopping season represents the most vital few weeks of the calendar for small businesses.
Many rely upon an infusion of cash that only comes at the end of the calendar year to sustain themselves through quieter months ahead.
Small businesses employ our neighbors, support our kids’ activities, provide places for people to gather in community, and create the vibrant culture that contributes to what we love about where we live.
When families, friends, and coworkers exchange gifts purchased from small, local businesses, that money circulates throughout the community two to four times more than dollars spent elsewhere, according to the American Independent Business Alliance.
We created the NJ Pen Good News Bag to make it easy for holiday shoppers to discover and support a variety of small businesses with a single purchase.
Our Partners
Some 30 small businesses from our coverage area participated in the 2025 Good News Bag. They offered a sample of the goods and services they deliver every day in their communities as a token of the holiday season and an invitation to explore all that they offer throughout the year.
What’s in the bag?
First, a thank-you to our advertising partners who sponsored the production of this project:
Our bags were printed locally at The Factory in Collingswood by John Falco of Falco Print and Design.
The gift list:
- 8th and Ash of Haddon Twp. (read more here) — $5 gift card
- Clutter Vintage of Collingswood (read more here) — art stickers from Jo Moyer-Battick
- Common Grounds of Oaklyn (read more here) — coffee sample, sticker, beverage voucher
- Collingsweird of Collingswood (read more here) — sticker
- Haddon Culinary of Collingswood and Haddonfield (read more here) — chocolate bars
- Hot Dawgs at Haddon Hall of Haddonfield (read more here) — free hot dog voucher
- House Finch of Collingswood (read more here) — wildlife bookmark, chip clip, or coffee mug
- Inkwood Books of Haddonfield (read more here) — pint glass, erasers, bookmark
- June BYOB of Collingswood (read more here) — meringues, $10 gift card
- Local Links of Haddon Heights (read more here) — $10 gift cards
- Norma’s Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine of Cherry Hill (read more here) — $10 gift card
- Odd Folk of Collingswood (read more here) — $10 gift card
- Phidelity Records of Haddon Township (read more here) — $10 gift cards
- The Pilates Soul Studio of Collingswood (read more here) — class voucher
- Revolution Coffee Roasters of Collingswood (read more here) — 6 oz. coffee bags
- Ritz Theatre Co. of Haddon Township (read more here) — ticket
- Ropeadope of Barrington (read more here) — CD
- South Jersey RunningCo of Haddonfield (read more here) — performance socks
- Secret Origins Comics & More of Collingswood (read more here) — comic books
- South Jersey Special of Haddon Heights (read more here) — greeting cards
- Tacconelli’s Pizzeria of Haddon Township (read more here) — housemade pasta
- Tanner Brewing Co. of Haddon Heights (read more here) — beverage flight pass
- Tennis By Ennis of Collingswood (read more here) — tennis ball, racket wrap, or racket dampener
- Tiger Schulmann’s Karate of Cherry Hill — class voucher
- Time Lapse of Collingswood (read more here) — Nightmare Before Christmas blind boxes
- Upcycle Fitness and Social Club of Collingswood (read more here) — class voucher
- Wanda BYOB of Haddonfield (read more here) — appetizer gift card
Every bag also includes a three-month subscription to NJPen.com for new readers.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this project!
