Ladies Day Out kicks off holiday shopping season
Nov. 4—It's beginning to look a lot like — maybe not Christmas, but certainly the holiday shopping season in downtown Meadville.
The season kicks off Sunday with the annual Ladies Day Out event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly 30 shops are participating, with numerous giveaways, door prizes, snacks, sales and more along the way.
The event makes for an exciting day, according to Kim Whitehead, manager of City Limits Fashion & Tanning, one of several participating Downtown Mall locations.
"We have been preparing all week. We've been getting new clothes in every day and items for the event," Whitehead said as she prepared to close Friday evening. After taking part in the festivities for almost five years, she said the shop has been happy with the results.
"It does bring a lot of people into the store that haven't shopped here," she said, "plus a lot of our regular customers."
Organizers expect the usual turnout of 400 to 500 people, according to Christine Yamrick, owner of Chateau Christine.
"It's our biggest day of the year for retail for most of us downtown," Yamrick said Friday as she paused while making close to 100 T-shirts that will be given away as "doorbusters." "I love the fact that everyone comes down and shops — and they do shop, not just at one store but at all the stores. We are incredibly grateful for that."
The event offers visitors the chance to have passport books checked at each of participating store for a chance to win prizes. And with more locations than ever.
The participating stores include 14 on or near Chestnut Street: Cup N'Spoon, Green Shoppe, Hovis Interiors, Hatch Hollow, The Chalk Shop, The Woolen Mill, Chateau Christine, Loeffler's Flowers, No Place Like Home Decor, Boho Swag Jewelry & Accessories, Confections of a Cake Lover, Harmony Formals Tuxedos and More, Tattered Corners New and Used Bookstore, Julian's Bar & Grill. Another seven shops are nearby on Market Street: The Apothecary at Indigo, Indigo Boutique & Botanica, Hello Sunshine Boutique, French Creek Framing and Fine Art and Meadville Market House, including Nancy's Under the Steps and Save Room For Desert.
Three Downtown Mall stores will be part of the festivities as well: City Limits, Fox's Sew & Vac and Ooh La La Consignment.
On Park Avenue, participating organizations include The Niche, The Salty Spa, Autumn Taylor Massage Therapy and ONE Federal Credit Union.
In addition, Vitality Natural Health and Wellness Center, with a newly opened Park Avenue Plaza location, and Inspire Salon and Spa and Inspire Med Spa, at 19294 Cochranton Rd. will also be part of the fun.
The event is about more than just fun, according to Yamrick. When she launched Ladies Day Out with two participating stores a decade ago, the shoppers who will make purchases tomorrow were making similar purchases then — but they were making them in Erie, Grove City and other places. Today, those shoppers are spending more money in Crawford County.
"With so many stores that are here and open and participating," Yamrick said, "it really makes a big economic impact on our community. We're all hiring people to work that day or to prep for that day. It's just a great impact for the community."
It only makes sense to offer lots of special deals to attract even more participants, according to Whitehead.
"We're look forward to seeing them on Sunday," she said.
Mike Crowley can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at mcrowley@meadvilletribune.com.
