By NICK YAMASHITA
The Progress
Local small retailers were on full display in downtown Overton on Saturday, Nov. 28 for a Small Business Saturday streetfair event hosted by American Gypsy clothing store.
More than 15 vendors participated in the event offering a host of local shoppers a unique holiday shopping experience. Most of the vendors provided one-of-a-kind gifts and products that were homemade and unique to the area.
The event was the brainchild of local residents John and Jessica Whisenand, owners of American Gypsy.
“We have been planning this for a while,” said John Whisenand. “My wife has done a lot to make sure this happened. It has been a good day.”
From pizza to jewelry to apparel to soap, lotions, and more; vendors at the event provided all kinds of products to make perfect Christmas gifts. All vendors were happy and stated the event was going well for them. Most were comfortable to be out in the market again, stating that restrictions on events due to COVID had dramatically hurt theirs in-person style of doing business.
“We lost our store building location due to COVID,” said Plus Ten Clothing Company owner Taylor Woodford. “We are now selling out of the trailer and focusing on our online sales. But we are so happy to be here where we can make face-to-face sales.”
Honey B’s Soaps owner, Lottie Edwards, who came to the event from Virgin Valley, said she was pleased with the day’s business. “We have done even better here than at events in Mesquite!” said Edwards.
One vendor was actually making a business debut at the event. Stephanie Sherwood, owner of The Coffee Cove, said that the new business will be serving the valley and hitting the streets soon. It will be offering hot coffee, hot cocoa, cocoa bombs, macchiatos, mochas, cappuccinos, and more.
Sherwood explained that the business will be operating from a trailer. She is just waiting on a couple of approvals from Clark County to get clear, and then they will be in business, she said.
Also available at Saturday’s event was a $65 grab bag deal from American Gypsy. For $65, attendees could get whatever they could fit inside the bag. Several customers took advantage of the great deal.
There was a big raffle drawing, which was done for a basket of goodies that included all vendors’ items at the event. Raffle tickets were $5 each. Proceeds went towards the Santa’s Giving Tree and Toy Drive. The winner of the raffle was Leia Gerhart.
“Small Business Saturday was absolutely amazing!” Jessica Whisenand said. “Our town and community showed up and supported us. It was the perfect reminder that no matter what is happening in the world, we as a community have each other’s back, and we’re in this together.”
Vendors which participated in the event included The Coffee Cove; Colorstreet owned by Tonya Burton; Wild Whimsies and Perfectly Posh owned by Sue Dreyfus; Rusty Clementine owned by Leia Gearhart; Rebellions Boutique owned by Penny Vallone; Plus Ten Clothing: Extreme Clothing and Fun owned by Taylor Woodford; Bare Essentials owned by Tara Wolfley; CandleMe owned by Anne Melanson; Honey B’s Soaps owned by Lottie Edwards; Moapa Valley Cakes owned by Keisha Schumaker; and Fired Up Creations owned by Bailey Dueck.
For more information on each vendor, you may look up their business on Facebook.
The Whisenands have been busy lately spreading the word about local businesses for the holidays. In addition to Saturday’s event, American Gypsy is offering a Santa’s Mailbox for kids to mail letters to the big man himself, a Santa’s Giving Tree, a Toy Drive, and even a Tee Party on Thursday. Of course there will also be a visit from Santa Claus on Saturday, December 5.
American Gypsy Clothing Co. is located at 123 E. Thomas in Overton.
