In the 1947 movie and the remake in 1994, “Miracle on 34th Street,” the Macy’s Santa Claus recommends other stores when Macy’s does not have a particular product.
When LLC, “Love Local Chester,” proprieters, a group of nine stores, do not have particular merchandise in stock, the individual store refers their customer to another LLC store in the area.
LLC buys advertisements together, meets with one another to share ideas, mentor one another and chats about owning a small business.
Sheila (Hailey-Walters) and Joanne (Crowell-Redd,) who was a principal at Ecoff
Elementary School, talked about things they could do to get some small businesses together. Sheila said. “I used to be a vendor with That’s a Great Idea. So we got together looking for any like businesses, thinking we could mentor each other and come together to put Chester on the map as a destination place to shop, share in advertising costs and share in woes as well as successes, too.
Just bring it together for all of us.”
Sheila’s partner in O! So Chic is her sister, Kim Hailey-Perdergrass. More than one LLC business is owned by partners. The General Store on Centre Street in Chester is owned by daughter and mother – Amy Holloman and Pam Wade.
“We each have our own unique store that offers almost everything like a Chester Carytown,” Amy remarked. “Working together, some say it’s competition, but we come together to support each other. It far outweighs the benefits to us.”
The concept is shared by the entire group. Susan Griggs owns That’s a Great Idea Gifts & More; Mary Schindel, She; Denise Wells Reynolds, Timeless Treasures; Joann Crowell-Redd, Suited for Success Women’s Consignments; Mary Weaver, Mary’s This and That; Diane Elam, ChickaDE’s; and a new business in town The Blank Slate who Kathleen McCay and Tracie Woods-Smith own.
From gifts to old general store items to learning how to paint while sipping wine to clothing and things for the home, this group of local stores knows what it is like to serve the public and support Chester.
