Weather moves sale

By CAROLYN R. WILSON/Correspondent

The old adage “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” couldn’t be more true than when more than 2,000 people are expected to crowd into the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center this Saturday looking for a bargain.
An old picture frame, a vintage piece of jewelry or a household item will likely catch the eyes of shoppers as they browse Abingdon’s Largest Indoor Garage Sale, a fundraising event held twice each year, in January and July, to benefit the center. The sale, originally scheduled for last Saturday, was postponed to Feb. 6 due to weather conditions.
Vendors selling new and used items will fill 96 booths in the Joseph P. Johnson Jr. Grand Hall, recently named for the delegate. The sale, scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., also will include booths throughout the hallway and in the new addition to the center. Admission is $2 and children younger than 12 are admitted free.
This is the first year Courtney Conner of Richlands will display her goods at the sale. Conner, a site director for University of Virginia’s College at Wise, will fill one table with jewelry and other monogrammed merchandise from Initial Outfitters, for which she is a consultant. The other table is for used belongings, such as clothes, bedspreads, Virginia Tech items and home décor items.
Items for sale range from specialty and handcrafted items to antiques and collectibles to the average yard sale finds.
Kim Stewart, public relations and marketing director for the center, said the event is a way to generate funds for the center as well as help the community during the slow economic time. “It’s a good way for people to make money while ridding themselves of unwanted items. Some vendors have reported earning more than $2,000 from the event.”
Anyone can participate as a vendor as long as illegal drugs, tobacco products, food and drinks are not sold. Stewart reported that the event is sold out with a long waiting list of vendors. Booths, measuring a 10 feet square, cost $50 for the one-day event.
Stewart said there is a good mix between businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals who registered as vendors. Several nonprofit organizations will be represented at the sale, including the American Cancer Society, Women in Need of Johnson City, Washington County Habitat for Humanity and Upper Tennessee River Roundtable, a nonprofit organization with an overall interest in improving water quality in the Upper Tennessee River Watershed.
The marketing director said many of the businesses are returning from last year’s event. Rocky Brook Garden and Gifts, Barter Theatre, Plumb Alley Beads, and Shabby Garden Shop have reserved booths. Capo’s Music Store, a new business in Abingdon, will bring their goods.
To learn more about participating in the next garage sale in July, visit www.swcenter.edu.