With warm weather returning and spring right around the corner, it’s time to hang up the coats and slip back into sandals, and an event this week to promote local businesses is a perfect way to restock the spring wardrobe with new styles.
On Thursday 19 local businesses across Pike County will offer special discounts, drawings, trunk shows and refreshments for the Pike County Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Retail Therapy event, which runs from the open of the business until 8 p.m.
Chamber executive director Catherine Sanders said the event is the spring version of the popular Mistletoe & Magic event, which is held every winter with the goal of supporting local businesses and keeping money within Pike County instead of traveling to larger cities.
“It is a proven fact that when you spend your money with a local business, more cents from that dollar goes back into the community than when you spend your money elsewhere,” Sanders said. “If you want your community to be successful, you have to support your businesses. If you want Pike County to do well, then you have to spend your money in town. You can’t expect McComb to grow and thrive if you’re spending all your money in Hammond or Jackson.”
Each business will have its own exclusive discounts and offers for the day, such as 20 percent off all clothing and shoes at Frolic Boutique in Summit, 50 percent off any one item at Friendgirl Things in the Edgewood Mall in McComb, 20 percent off all lamps at McComb Electric Supply and $1 sugar cones, sweet tea and lemonade from The Sweet Tooth Café.
Sanders said about 300 tickets were sold for the event last year, and many of those came the day of the event at the stores. She hopes that with Retail Therapy falling in line with the Azalea Festival, many people already out and about will stop in some of the stores along the way.
“I think everyone is excited about hopefully good weather coming any minute now and getting out of the doldrums of winter, getting out and about in your community and do some shopping while you’re out doing things,” Sanders said. “It’s a really good boost for our local retailers and we need to support and shop local. We’re very excited about that.”
Sanders also said more businesses are participating this year, and she thinks that stems from the success many had with the event last year.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the chamber’s new office at 213 Main Street in downtown McComb or from any of the participating businesses: Alford’s Flowers and Gifts, debec’s/Sew Be It, District 51, Friendgirl Things, Frolic Boutique, Graphics, Etc., Holmes Stationers & Gifts, Lisa Lewis Interior Design, Peaches & Pearls, Rustic Charm Vendor Gallery, Selman’s Jewelers, Signatures Custom Framing/Japonica Gallery, Southwest Vendor’s Mall, The Sweet Tooth Café, The Village Flower & Gift Shop, Twice is Nice and Wizard Electronics.
In other business:
• Wendy Smith, Vice President in charge of the Education Division, announced that the chamber is in need of sponsors for the Mississippi Scholars Banquet, set for 6 p.m. April 21 at First Baptist Church in Summit. Smith said she is still looking for sponsors to cover the food and rental expenses, an estimated $5,000, along with a guest speaker. The chamber has funds to cover the scholarships.
• Sanders announced four new chamber members for February — : Charles Gayden, McComb Branch NAACP, Keys to Fashion and Sterling Economic Development Consultants.
• Landon Woodall, vice president in charge of the Economic Development Division, announced the Business of the Month for April is Central Sunbelt Federal Credit Union.
• Program director Kelli Brock said the annual bass tournament is May 31 at Lake Okhissa, and the quarterly business breakfast is 8 a.m. March 25 at St. Andrew’s Senior Center.
