Registration is now open for Dowagiac’s third annual Community-wide Garage Sale Weekend Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 26-28.
Organizers who hoped the first-time event in 2009 would provide economic relief for families on a tight budget, attract thrifty bargain hunters to the community and additional foot traffic to the downtown, found the promotion did just that.
“During its second year, 81 residential sites in Dowagiac and at Sister Lakes registered to participate in the event, as some of our downtown businesses also joined the fun, bringing their special-sale merchandise outside and onto the sidewalk,” said Vickie Phillipson, program director for the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority.  The two groups co-sponsor the sales promotion.
“For those people who enjoy going to estate or garage sales, a community-wide event such as this is much like bargain hunting on steroids,” Phillipson said.
“For homeowners who are doing spring cleaning, senior citizens who believe fewer dust collectors are actually more or for families on a tight budget, the May 26-28 community-wide garage sale offers a great way to bring additional customers to each of these individual garage sales.”
The City of Dowagiac  agreed to waive the garage sale permit for that weekend, thereby allowing the Chamber and DDA to register participants for the community-wide promotion.
The city-issued permit remains in effect for those families that do not register with the Chamber.
Participants of the community-wide sale who register with the Chamber of Commerce and DDA by Friday, May 6, will be included in the Buyers’ Guide and Map, which will be available at several downtown locations in advance of the promotion and also that weekend.
Event organizers will also take care of placing the classified and display advertising for the promotion.
Phillipson said monies collected through the $8 participation fee will underwrite advertising purchased in up to 11 publications, such as Leader Publications, The South Bend Tribune, Herald Palladium, Paw Paw Flashes, Berrien Springs Journal Era and Kalamazoo Gazette.
New this year, Phillipson said home owners and participating merchants can earn back part or all of their participation fee, as they provide assistance in selling Buyer’s Guides that will be marketed to the public for $1 per guide.
Home owners can pick up a registration form to participate in the promotion at the Chamber of Commerce, located in the historic train depot, or can call 782-8212 to have a form mailed to them.
Community organizations and church groups are also invited to participate in the community event.
Organizers anticipate the sales promotion will feature an array of clothing for children and adults, household items and furniture, toys and sporting goods, garden items and tools that will be for sale at individual homes throughout the community.
Phillipson said the Buyers’ Guide will categorize the sales according to their geographic location within the community, will show the location of each sale on a map and provide the consumer with helpful information regarding the type of merchandise each site offers.
The Buyers’ Guide will also feature special discount coupons for those specialty shops and restaurants that participate in the promotion as distribution sites for the consumer guide.
Chamber-member businesses that want to participate in the promotion should call the Chamber and DDA offices by Friday, April 13, to be included in the promotion.