Hobbies/Pastimes

Go Shopping Under the Influence

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What do you get when you combine great tasting wine with discount shopping at designer stores? The result is something called “Shopping Under the Influence.”

The event was hosted by Star 94.1 on Saturday, October 13 on Canton Street in downtown Rosewell, Ga. Popular DJs Jeff Dauler, Jenn Hobby and Heather Branch, as well as producer Jeannine stationed their booth outside Deep Roots Wine Market, who sponsored the event.

Staff at the Star 94.1 booth marking off names; Heather Branch (right) is handing out goodie bags for the first hundred people to check in (Photo by Jessica Baker.)

Saturday provided shoppers with fantastic weather; the temperature was moderate and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was a perfect day to go shopping and sample some delicious wine. Check-in began at 1:00 p.m. and lasted until 2:00 p.m. and on-air talent Heather Branch was assisting by handing out goodie bags, which were given to the first hundred people who arrived early enough.

According to Heather Schneider, head of the Star 94.1 marketing and promotions department, this is the radio station’s first year doing something like this. “Jenn Hobby always wanted to do this kind of event,” said Heather. “So we combined drinking and shopping and. . .that’s what got the ball rolling.”

After checking in, shoppers got the chance to examine their goodie bags, which contained a few niceties, such as a complementary stemless wine glass, a handout of which stores were offering discounts, a small scented candle, a small package of “Cool Peppermint” Holiday Snowflake Soap courtesy of Steel & Cotton Ltd., Dried Merlot Wine Grapes from the Wine Ray Zyn Co. and a beautiful heart-shaped pendant.

With their wine glasses in hand, shoppers took to the streets to score some discounts from the high-priced stores and businesses. One of these stores was Belle Mode with its gorgeous and classy set up.

Interior of Belle Mode (Photo by Jessica Baker)

Belle Mode was offering a 25 percent discount on all its clothing and was stocked with items such as faux leather dresses, fuzzy, chic sweaters, sparkly cowgirl boots and beautiful jewelry. There was even a shelf with baby items such as stuffed animals, blankets and picture frames. As the store is set up in a small house, shoppers entered the building through an arch surrounded by plants and exited through the back porch, which was also decorated with flower pots and vines wrapping around the beams.

 

There was one store that was a hit with many shoppers and this one didn’t even sell clothes. The Downtown Pooch was having a 20 percent off discount on their entire store, with the only exclusions being carried brands Fromm, Champion and Stella. Also set up in an old house, this pet supplies shop offered everything from dog food to treats to cute outfits and costumes.

Working alongside the The Downtown Pooch was Barktown Dog Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc., an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. They take care of spaying and neutering, vaccinations, microchipping and all veterinary care that is needed. Dogs regardless of breed, size, age or living situation are taken in and placed in foster homes until a permanent family can be found.

 

The dog rescue organization stationed itself outside The Downtown Pooch and members had several dogs out on leashes, looking to be adopted (Photo by Jessica Baker)

 

After some fun in the sun, shoppers had the opportunity to grab some lunch or a couple of snacks at any of the small restaurants lining the street; one such place is called the Plum Cafe, which was offering a buy one, get one half off on their smoothies as a part of Shopping Under the Influence. The Plum Cafe is a family owned and operated restaurant that offers health-conscious soups, salads and sandwiches as well as gluten-free options. They use organic, non-GMO, all-natural ingredients with no fillers or preservatives.

 

Hers Magazine media representative, Jessica Baker, enjoys an organic strawberry-banana smoothie under the Plum Cafe’s gazebo.

The weather was so nice that many customers wanted to eat in the cafe’s outside seating area, which included a few umbrella-covered tables as well as a beautiful white gazebo, all stationed right next to the Deep Roots Wine Market.

 

Jenn Hobby (center) posed for a photo with Andrea Rafferty (left), the executive assistant for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta with Andrea’s friend Eileen Wicks (right) (Photo by Jessica Baker.)

Overall, it was a great day to get out and have a good time with friends and family. Jenn Hobby from the Jeff & Jenn Show explained that Shopping Under the Influence was one of their quarterly events; one of which you can make new friends and enjoy a new area of town. No surprise, as the event was Jenn’s idea. “I was having wine with some girlfriends and we decided it would be a fun idea to combine wine and shopping,” Jenn said. “We pitched the idea to the studio and they ran with it.”

 

 

 



Branch, who had been helping staff get everyone settled in, expressed plans to perhaps do something similar next year. “So far, everybody has been having a good time, the weather is beautiful and we get to toast with a glass of wine and that is good enough reason with me,” said Heather.

Heather Branch holding up a Shopping Under the Influence goodie bag as she helps with check-ins (Photo by Jessica Baker.)

If Star 94.1 is planning to host a similar next year, it should be another fun experience as long as the weather holds up.

 

 

Jessica Baker is a Journalism and Emerging Media major at KSU and an intern at Hers Magazine as well as AllWrite Publishing.

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