If the household items that are stowed away in the far-reaching corners of your basement or attic have stood in the way of your spring cleaning, the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce may have just the incentive that will inspire you to roll up your sleeves and discard those long ago forgotten must-haves.

Dowagiac’s second annual Community-wide Garage Sale Weekend will be held Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29.

The event is being hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority (DDA), which will continue to accept registration forms through this Friday, May 14, at its offices located within the historic train depot, Vickie Phillipson, Chamber of Commerce and DDA program director announced Monday.
Some folks have asked what makes participation in a community-wide garage sale weekend different than a homeowner simply having their own sale?

“It’s a numbers game,” Phillipson said.  “Just as a shopping mall appeals to some families due to the number of stores and retail choices it offers, the more residential garage sales that are held within a confined five to 10-mile area, the more bargain hunters and garage sale and antiques enthusiasts the promotion is likely to attract.  The bottom line is additional foot traffic at your garage sale and more income for you.”

“For bargain hunters or antiquers, a community-wide garage sale weekend provides the perfect hunting ground for good finds and terrific bargains,” Phillipson said. “Businesses will also benefit from the promotion, especially those stores that are having sidewalk sales May 28 and 29. Day visitors will likely also spend some time shopping downtown or will pick up a quick lunch while enroute to their next stop.”

“During its first year, the promotion featured more than 50 residential garage and yard sales located within Dowagiac and at Sister Lakes. To date, 35 families have registered for this year’s promotion, with another six registration forms going out in today’s mail. By the end of this week, we will probably top 50 locations.”

Participating homeowners pay a nominal $5 fee to be included in the Buyer’s Guide and Map, which the Chamber of Commerce and DDA will distribute to the public through select downtown locations.

Phillipson said money earned from the participation fees are earmarked for advertising in the classified sections of nine publications, including The Leader’s six publications, The South Bend Tribune, Herald Palladium and Paw Paw Flashes shoppers’ guide.

The City of Dowagiac agreed to waive the garage sale permit for that weekend, thereby allowing the Chamber of Commerce and DDA to register participants for the community-wide event.

Phillipson said city-issued permit remains in effect for those families that do not register with the Chamber and DDA.

In addition to receiving a city map that identifies the locations of the residential garage sales, the Buyer’s Guide will also contain a general list of merchandise each sale plans to feature, as well as those locations that will be holding estate sales.

The locations of the individual garage sales will be grouped together in four sections, representing quadrants of the City.  Organizers have used Division Street, along with North Front Street, Cass Avenue and Wilbur Hill Road as the dividing lines.  Sales within Sister Lakes and those toward Cassopolis will also be grouped in categories.

“For the day visitor who may be unfamiliar with the community, we wanted to make it as easy as possible for them to navigate from one residential garage sale to another,” Phillipson said.  “As such, we will provide them with two means to do so.”

Because the event will be held rain or shine, participating homeowners should have a back-up plan for overhead cover to ensure their merchandise and customers remain dry.
Multi-family sales will be noted as such within the Buyer’s Guide.  Phillipson said those folks who may live in an apartment complex can also register to be a host site, as well as churches or community organizations that would like to hold a fund raiser in the form of a yard sale.

Participating sites that have already registered for the promotion appear to be well stocked in apparel for adults and children, household goods, kitchen and glassware, and bedding and bath.   Some locations plan to feature antiques and collectibles, scrapbooking and craft items and even designer purses.  One-of-a-kind items for the sportsman include a golf cart, canoe, fishing rods and deer stand.   Families looking for furniture will find a good selection, along with household appliances, patio furniture and electronics.

Phillipson said the Buyer’s Guide will also contain advertising information of interest to the public, featuring specialty shops downtown that plan to host sidewalk sales May 28 & 29, including Booth’s Country Florist & Gifts, The Hairitage, Hope’s Door Thrift Store, Oh My, Laurie Anne’s, Iconik Clothing and Shirley’s Flower Arrangements.  These same locations, along with the Chamber of Commerce and DDA, will also serve as distribution sites for the Buyer’s Guides.  Shoppers can pick up their complimentary Buyer’s Guide with downtown coupons beginning Friday, May 21.

To register your garage sale for the event call the Chamber of Commerce and DDA at 269.782.8212.