Pine Belt getting an early start on Christmas shopping at small business expos

PINE BELT, Miss. (WDAM) – Although Thanksgiving is still a few days away, small businesses in the Pine Belt are helping shoppers get in the Christmas spirit.

More than 100 vendors made their way to Laurel for Saturday’s Merry Marketplace, a tradition organizers said was sure to bring out shoppers’ holiday spirit.

“We like to say that you shop till you drop when you come in here,” said Amelia Baters, Merry Marketplace director. “You can literally start your Christmas shopping and finish your Christmas shopping with us.

“We have a little bit of absolutely everything,”

The same could be said at the Train Depot in Hattiesburg, where the 13th annual Holiday Expo,

“You literally can get everything that you need,” said Danyella Terrell, Holiday Expo coordinator. “Your jellies that you’re using for your Christmas and your Thanksgiving parties and dinners. And your jams, your seasonings and your sauces. All of it,”

Although many vendors were locally-owned, organizers said some of the businesses came from beyond the Pine Belt.

“We have brought over 75 vendors from Mississippi; Alabama; Louisiana; Atlanta, Georgia; and Texas,” Terrell said. “I think I got them all– and Tennessee.”

In Laurel, the Merry Marketplace already was looking to next year.

Organizers said their plans for next holiday season will boost small businesses even more and give shoppers more than one opportunity to check off everything on their lists.

“Next year, we’re actually going to have two Christmas shows, one in Hattiesburg and one in Laurel,” Bates said. “We like to set this up to give people a chance to make some extra holiday money, but, also, to allow the community to come out and shop from these vendors and the small businesses,”

A little early Christmas shopping not only helps shoppers spread out the costs but also builds up the local economy, Bates said.

“It’s great to give back the money right to the hand that delivers it,” Bates said. “Because that way we can invest in our community and encourage people to work from home or even make crafts.”

Hattiesburg’s holiday expo featured more than 70 vendors, while Laurel’s Merry Marketplace boasted 178 vendors.

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