A handful of small businesses throughout the Golden Triangle decided to brave the heat and come out for a midsummer pop up shop in Starkville’s Fire Station Park Saturday.
Nicole Williams, owner of Grace & Favor Crafts and one of the three coordinators of the event said it was an effort to bring these businesses together to help raise community awareness of them.
“We came together and came up with the idea for local businesses to come out into the community and showcase their business,” Williams said. “That way the community can come out and see who they are and also get their name out there and their business growing.”
Roughly 10 businesses set up tents in the park and offered their wares to curious people who stopped by to check the event out.
One of those businesses was Unique Blings by Chelsea, owned by Chelsea Yarbrough. Yarbrough is no stranger to pop up markets, having co-hosted her own recently, also in Starkville.
“I was invited to come back out this weekend,” Yarbrough said. “I just wanted to come out to support. We are all small business owners. Sometimes small businesses are at the tail end when it comes to being recognized, so I just wanted to come out and show the ladies here my support by being a part of their event today.”
She said there was a great benefit to participating in events such as these because it creates recognition for businesses within a community.
“It is very important because sometimes people do not even know that you have a small business,” Yarbrough said. “It lets you get out and introduce yourself to the community and let them know that you have a small business. Coming out to events like this not only gets your name out there, but it gets your face out there and people recognize you and recognize your name.”
While Yarbough sold custom jewelry, Christina Davis offered something a bit different.
She was there promoting her book of devotionals titled “Kingdom Hearts.”
“I’m just out here supporting other entrepreneurs and putting my devotional out as well so people can come and support and maybe pick up one and maybe one for a family member,” Davis said.
Sha said the event gave her a platform to promote something she worked hard on as well as support others trying to fulfill their dreams.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity to get the word out about something that I did and something that I thought people would benefit from,” Davis said. “I think it is important because we don’t have big commercials and brand names that everybody knows.”
Williams was happy with the turnout, especially on a day when rain threatened the event.
“It’s been great,” Williams said. “We had a lot of people sign up, different vendors. … We just had different people reach out and say, ‘Hey, we want to be a part.’ And we were glad to have them.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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