As August 21, 2017 and the Great American Eclipse draws closer I would like to reach out to the businesses that I may have not been able to talk to through various Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce eclipse presentations I have done for their membership.
During the eclipse weekend, August 18-21 Perryville will experience not only the Great American Eclipse but also an influx of people wanting to be as close to the center line of totality as possible. With the people will come the need for lodging, gas, food, snacks, groceries and many other items of personal necessities. Use this celestial phenomenon as an economic opportunity and think ahead business wise.
If you are in the hospitality industry plan a special “eclipse” themed dish, appetizer or special cosmic concoction to attract these hungry eclipse chasers. Plan staffing accordingly so that you may deliver the best service and provide the best dining experience possible. Some of our eclipse visitors may not have traveled so far and may be delighted to return and get that down-home Perryville hospitality again with friends in tow.
If you are one of our many convenience markets and/or gas stations then do make sure your shelves are fully stocked for the constant flow that weekend. Ice, drinks, sunscreen along with Missouri and/or eclipse souvenirs will be popular. Special attention may be given to your fueling schedule. If you normally get your tanks replenished on a Monday after the busy weekend I would avoid eclipse Monday due to the heavy traffic we are anticipating.
There are also several hundred-additional rustic and self-contained campsites opportunities available within Perryville and East Perry County. These campers will need groceries and supplies as nobody ever remembers everything!
Nobody knows your business better than you do. So, take a minute to think of how you can promote your business, your service or your product to the masses that will visit, tour, shop, eat and sleep here during The Great American Eclipse. Moonier’s Florist has flowers named Eclipse and Night Sky. Fandangle has created Perry County eclipse jewelry. Hemman’s Winery will have a special vintage named Eclipse. The Barrens Winery will have their special vintage called Inner Circle and Jackson Street Brewco will be tapping its special eclipse themed brew that weekend. The Perry County Heritage Tourism has Perry County solar eclipse glasses and postcards available at the Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce.
If you feel your business does not fit into the tourism or hospitality industry and would like to be involved in this exciting event then we have some special sponsorship opportunities for the many activities we have planned for Solarfest weekend. Special thanks already to Perry County Memorial Hospital for being our sponsor for Perryville Solarfest, TG Missouri for sponsoring the Perryville 573Mudfest, Coldwell Bankers and Professional Associates for bringing the Dark Sky Mobile Planetarium to our Perry Park Center during Solarfest Saturday and Thrivent’s Tom Frasher for donating Library Telescopes to both of our Perry County Riverside Regional Library branches. The opportunities are as many as the stars in the Milky Way! Don’t miss yours chance to shine.
