Jim Fair
Shoppes On Trade offers $5 massages on Fridays to lure customers to its store.
Jim Fair
Kendra Glenn, left, worked social media to find a variety of vendors to lease space at the Shoppes.
Jim Fair
The chevron pattern on these purses is a contemporary design that is in favor with consumers this year.
Jim Fair
Plates painted as sunflowers can be used as outdoor garden decorations or bird feeders.
Kendra Glenn, Shoppes General Manager (211 Trade Street), has 37 vendors selling a variety of merchandise and $5 massages on Fridays. More vendors are expected to display their merchandise in the coming weeks.
“It’s all about generating people,” Glenn said. “(Massagges) are a way to get people in and it works.” Glenn said walk-in traffic has increased on Fridays because of the massages. “We saw four new customers the first Friday and last week there were 14 more.”
Glenn is adding spa services beginning in April.
“I wanted to broaden the merchandise and traffic coming into the store. It’s been a lot of hard work,” Glenn said. “I want to appeal to everybody and want everybody to find something.”
Scott Green, who grew up in Blue Ridge, said he visited downtown and found Shoppes to his liking. “That’s a great place to take my mother-in-law. She would love to shop there,” Green said.
Glenn became the new manager in February when Wanda Garcia resigned to concentrate on destination shopping events. Some vendors left while others remained to offer a core group in which to build.
“I knew I had to get it filled quickly,” Glenn said. “I went to social media and contacted people through Facebook. That’s how I made contact with a woman from Michigan who wanted to sell her doll clothes here. She came in as a customer and left leasing space.”
Glenn said she is still thinking about offering limited deli sandwiches. Shoppes has a kitchen in the rear of the building.
The Shoppes are open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Call Glenn at 469-9885 or visit here for more information.
Shoppes vendors
AM Glass Recyclers
Art Life
Artis Tree Revealed
Bella Chiot
Boxed Up!
Brio Trio
ChickSprings
Chocolate Dreams
Country Chic
Fabulosa Jewelry
Floral Designs & More
Happy Day Presence
Ista Tees
Jamie Sue Designs
Juxtaposition
Karisma by Kara
la mia cucina
Lolia Jewelry
Lori Chick
Massage Therapist – Kendra Wein
Mx2 Designs
Oliver’s Fancy
Once Again Sam
Outdoor Creations
Patti Manning
Pjelly
Screaming Horse Iron Works
Slickwear
Soap Dish Company
stellaEM Haberdashery
Stone Lotus Pottery
The ButterBath Co
The Owlet Boutique
Vintage Rose
Willow
Yellow Bird Photography
Yellow Hype Custom Invitation