Published: November 17, 2009 05:00 pm      

Area merchants prepare for ‘Holly Days’

AVON — The Avon Tri Kappa will be partnering with 10 businesses here for Holly Days, a day-long event to raise funds for Hendricks County charities and Avon High School scholarships. This year’s event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 21.

“We are very excited,” Tri Kappa member Susie Etienne said. “We are doing our best to spread the word and sell as many passports as we can to people.”

Holly Days is an annual event that also increases awareness about local businesses and community non-profits.

Cathy Sturm, co-owner and stylist at Cass and Company Salon, said, “We are really excited because this is the third year we’ve done it. Each year, it has grown enough to show that we get a lot of traffic from it. It’s an opportunity to promote our business and all of the community businesses. We really believe in supporting community businesses. This is a great way to do it.”

At any of the 10 participating businesses, customers can purchase a $5 passport to support both the business and it’s non-profit partner. Each business has a non-profit partner that it is donating 15 percent of all sales during Holly Days to.

“It provides us the opportunity for guests that have not come to Cass & Company before to come into our building without any obligation,” Sturm said. “They can see how beautiful the salon is and how special we are. It’s a great opportunity to get new customers. It’s also a great opportunity to thank our current customers for giving us business and supporting us through the years.”

Etienne said this will be the first year that the event is not called “Holly Days for Her,” as this year it is also geared toward men.

The promotions for the day at Cass & Company include a gift certificate sale, everything in the store being marked down 20 percent off the regular price (excluding the promotional products), food and beverages, and tours of the salon.

Cass & Company is at 7374 Business Center Drive. The salon’s non-profit partner is Sheltering Wings, a shelter in Danville for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence.

Nearby, Anderson Chiropractic will have complimentary chair massages from noon to 2 p.m. by appointment only. The office is also hosting its annual food drive from 8-11 a.m. With a donation of non-perishable food items or toiletries, established patients can receive a free adjustment and new patients can receive their first day services at no charge. The food drive will benefit the Kingsway Christian Church food pantry. To schedule an appointment, call 272-7000.

Anderson Chiropractic is at 7390 Business Center Drive. It is teaming up with the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Also participating is The Tutoring Club of Avon, which is offering a Mom’s Holly Days Out from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mothers can drop off children ages 5 and older for an afternoon while they shop. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 838-8867.

The Tutoring Club of Avon is at 9158 E. U.S. 36. It’s non-profit partner is Hendricks College Network.

Other participants and their non-profit partners are:

n Clarian West Gift Shop at 1100 N. Ronald Reagan Parkway — Day Nursery;

n Target Metabolism at 10234 E. U.S. 36 — Partners in Care;

n Katie’s Consign and Resale at 9719 E. U.S. 36 — Paw Park;

n The Athlete’s Foot for Runners at 9269 E. U.S. 36 — Pet Shop Puppies;

n Wild Birds Unlimited at 8100 E. U.S. 36, Suite O — McCloud Nature Park;

n Avon Alterations at 9271 E. U.S. 36 — Sheltering Wings; and

n Prestwick Country Club - The Gazebo at 5197 Fairway Drive — Susie’s Place.

These businesses have filled the “passports” with Holly Days discounts and coupons. On Nov. 21, customers can have their passports validated by visiting all of the participating businesses. That will make them eligible to win prizes including a $100 Visa card and the grand prize of a Four Seasons getaway package.

In addition, there will be food drive stations set up at Cass & Company and Avon Alterations to go to the Light and Life Christian Church Food Pantry. The collection will continue until May.



ryan.palencer@flyergroup.com