FRANKLIN—Courtland resident Marguerite Leathers is doing her part to stimulate the local economy.

Leathers won the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce’s shop-at-home slogan contest with “Put your money where your home is.”

The winning phrase was revealed at Thursday night’s Business Expo at the Paul D. Camp Workforce Development Center.

Leathers said she heard about the contest and decided to mull it over.

“I thought, ‘That’s a neat idea. I’m going to try for it,’” she said. “It’s important — especially with International Paper closing the mill — that we shop at home.”

Leathers won a $250 community card for her slogan, which will be used in marketing the business community, said Teresa Beale, the Chamber’s executive director.

“It’s going to be our mantra,” she said. “A lot of the merchants will probably adopt it, too.”

More than 500 people visited the 50-plus vendors at the Expo.

“It was a fun time for everyone,” said Chamber President Clyde Parker. “There was a lot of interaction between the participants. It was an upbeat situation given the times we’re in. People seemed to want to kind of rally together and, as we always do at the Chamber, we’re trying to encourage businesses to do business with their neighbors.

“I heard a lot of very favorable comments from everyone.”

Beale said the steady crowd had vendors enthused.

“Folks were there early waiting to get in,” she said. “Vendors were very excited about the large turnout.”

Southern Charm Garden Center won kudos for best decorated booth, she added.