Page 9 - Explore Faulkner County 2020

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE • EXPLORE FAULKNER COUNTY
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 2020
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called #ConwayToGo, which allowed local businesses to post their specials, share food pictures and offer other services. White said the group had more than 9,500 members.
“We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from our restaurants saying that they appreciated [the group],” she said. “Word of mouth is huge, so when someone shares something with someone else, they want to try it.”
VILONIA
LaCosta Beene, president of the Vilonia Area Chamber of Commerce, said small
businesses are important to the city because almost every business in the city is one. With the exception of a couple of chain restaurants and the local Walmart, everything is locally owned.
She said that because so many businesses are locally owned, it makes the community unique. She said businesses such as El Ranchero, Pizza Pro, Sweethouse Donuts and Linda Marie’s help make a dynamic community and employ people in the community. She said businesses weren’t impacted too much by COVID-19, as they were able to adapt to curbside delivery.
BUYING AND SELLING
SILVER COINS • COLLECTOR SUPPLIES • MINT & PROOF SETS • SILVER AMERICAN EAGLES
3pm to 6pm Tues & Thurs 10am to 5pm last Saturday
of each month or by appointment
Ye Olde Coin Shoppe 1101 Museum Rd, Ste 2 • Conway
501-329-3330
SARAH DECLERK/RIVER VALLEY & OZARK EDITION
Ashton Pruitt, owner of Southern Savvy in Greenbrier, refocused her business as a result of the effects of COVID-19. She began making masks and made T-shirts that supported local salons that had to temporarily close.
Embrace Lingerie began offering online orders. Chapman said the change allowed the business to reach other markets it couldn’t reach before.
CONWAY
With about 1,200 members, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce works to provide networking and other services to its members.
Adena White, director of communica- tions, said it is important to support these businesses because they keep money flow- ing in the community.
“ ey have a business here, they live here, and their kids go to school here,” she said. “Small businesses are kind of like the backbone of our economy because they’re
invested in this community. ey are what make our community unique.”
White said there is a wide variety of businesses in the Conway area that provide all the same products and services as big retailers, but with a personal touch that can be lost at big-box stores. White pointed out an example of e Kitchen Store and More in Conway, which offers kitchen accessories, clothing and much more. e Kitchen Store has a wedding and baby registry just like many big-box stores, but also offers Arkansas-made products and delivery.
As for adapting to COVID-19, White said many businesses and restaurants were able to begin offering delivery or curbside service. e Conway Convention and Visitors Bureau started a Facebook group

that rarely goes out

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