Small Business Saturday a huge success in Franklin, Southampton
Published 9:43 am Wednesday, November 30, 2016
FRANKLIN
Stores in downtown Franklin and other small businesses throughout Southampton County were packed during Small Business Saturday this year, some of which even had lines trailing out the doors according to Mallory Tuttle, the business development manager for Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc.
Employees at Don Pancho’s had this picture taken on Small Business Saturday. In front, from left, Angel Padilla, Kendra Powell, Manuel Domingo; back, Christian Edenfield, Kerri Padilla and Frank Padilla. — SUBMITTED
A total of 26 businesses located throughout downtown Franklin and Southampton County participated this year, including A+ Pack and Ship, Alphabet Soup, Beamon and Johnson Auto Parts, Blackwater Outfitters, Bobby’s Tire and Auto, Don Pancho’s Cantina, Edwards Hardware, Fred’s Restaurant, Gray Fox Electronics, Grayson and Emma’s Garden Spot, Gurganus Peanut Shop, Hubs Peanuts, Ivor Furniture, Jus CAB Kakes, Kathara Spa, Mackan’s Office Supply and Printing, Moore Designs and Embroidery, Nicholson Auto Parts, Nottoway House Furniture, Parker Battery, Resale Boutique, Smith Jewelers, Southern Charm Garden Center, Storybook Antiques, The Cat’s Meow and The Peanut Patch Gift Shoppe.
This year, as part of its Small Business Saturday promotion, FSEDI encouraged everyone shopping in Southampton County on Saturday to take selfies with their purchases or with their favorite store owners and to post their photos to the FSEDI Facebook page using the hashtag #ShopSmallFS. The shopper whose photo received the most likes was to receive a $50 Visa gift card from FSEDI, which was awarded to Maggie Phillips for her photo at Mackan’s.
“We enjoyed the day and had a steady stream of traffic,” said Lynne Rabil, owner of Hubs Peanut Company, as quoted in a press release by FSEDI. “Every visitor received a free small bag of Hubs and we also had a drawing for a free 12-ounce tin of Hubs with every purchase of $25 or more. We also gave away an Anne Strickler harvest watercolor with every purchase of $100 or more, and I’m happy to say we gave away quite a few of those.”
According to the release, Debbie Crowder, the owner of The Cat’s Meow, told FSEDI representatives she had the “best day ever” on Saturday, the businesses’s number one day in sales since opening for business, with Black Friday this year coming in as the businesses’s third best day.
Several other businesses in downtown Franklin also had successful Black Fridays, despite the early-afternoon lull reported Sunday in The Tidewater News.
“Alphabet Soup had a wonderful Black Friday,” said owner Gerry Patnesky. “The people of Franklin have always been very supportive.”
