Dear Southport Antique Mall Dealers,

I am so excited to introduce to you my new monthly column for the S.A.M. newsletter
JUST FOR YOU! I am grateful to have this new forum of communication. I hope you find it
educational and informative. Welcome! Let’s get started…

We have a wonderful new addition to each entrance door of the store. Janice was brilliant
mind behind adding “kick down” style door stops. They are so helpful and convenient! Gone are the days of moving heavy cinderblocks, rocks and anvils in order to keep the door open. Be sure and take advantage of our new “door bling” and enjoy.

You may notice this month that we are no longer adding messages to your months end
print outs. We have always struggled to find an engaging way to communicate with ALL of
our dealers. Therefore, Krissy is attaching a separate handout to each of your settlements
with the “highlights” of important information for the month. Please, take the time to read
them. This is relevant information for you! However, those of you that are interested in more information can find it here . Thank you so much for reading this, by the way.

Our wonderful Media and Communication Team (Piper and Jessica) are putting together a
seminar just for S.A.M. dealer’s to help them navigate their way through social media. It will explain how Facebook and Twitter can help our dealers promote their own business’ and demonstrate the tricks of the trade! They are reaching out to see how much interest there might be out there, so read your flyer and respond if you are interested. I have learned so much from those gals. I don’t know how you feel, but it seems as technology moves faster, my brain gets slower! I often need help to stay ahead.

Thank you for taking the time to read my new column! I hope we connect every month with new and exciting information. We are all so thankful that each of you have chosen to be a part of the Southport Antique Mall family. You make the mall- go-round, and we are truly blessed to have you. Happy Fall!

“And when the leaves start to change, it’s beautiful to me-red, gold and yellow colors on the ground and high up in the trees..”-Laurie Berkner Band (My son’s favorite fall song)

Halloween is all about expressing yourself. You don’t want to be one of three vampires at the party. Instead of shopping at an overpriced Halloween pop-up store, shop Southport Antique Mall. Be unique and put together your own fabulous costume by buying a vintage wedding dress and transforming yourself into an undead zombie bride. Buy one staple costume piece like bunny ears and pair it with items from your closet, for a simple and low-cost costume. Love Mad Men? Pick out a Fedora, vintage tie and cocktail shaker and be Don Draper or find a sixties outfit complete with gloves and hat and channel your inner Peggy Olsen. The possibilities are endless so think outside the box and don’t just be another carbon copy this Halloween, be you, be unique.

  Is your little one in love with a movie character that wasn’t a part of this year’s new releases? If your little warrior just has to be Mulan for Halloween or your little monster wants to be Sully consider shopping Southport for their Halloween costume too. With a little looking we were able to find all sorts of past favorites throughout the mall and there is still several weeks before Halloween. If your looking for Halloween costumes be sure to let our friendly staff know and they’ll help you on your search. 

Halloween is a great time to use your imagination, decorating your home and even yourself for a fun time with friends and family.  One way to get creative is by using one of my favorite and most diverse items at the Southport Antique Mall, mason jars.  If you’ve been following our newsletter, you’ve seen mason jars be used as vases and centerpieces for weddings, but they are also great for other events and holidays as well.

Using a mason jar (and in this case a glass fish bowl) is a very simple, low maintenance project that will add a bit of fun to your Halloween celebration.  And don’t forget, if you aren’t much for Halloween, these projects can easily be transferred to make wonderful fall time decorations for your home!  The options are unlimited, but for the purpose of this newsletter, we will focus on Halloween decorations that you and/or your kids can create.

Below are step-by-step instructions for creating your very own ghostly jar that is a perfect replacement for paper luminaries that can be dangerous and wasteful.  Instead of those, line your sidewalk with a brightly lit, imaginatively created, safer alternative.  Also, see instructions for making your very own fish bowl jack-o-lantern.  The mess is less and you have a piece that you and your children can enjoy for years to come.

Favorite Word: Can't print my favorite word.

Collects: I don't collect. I just buy items and start collections for others.

Favorite spot in the mall: I would say the desk is my favorite spot. I enjoy the customers and being nosey. I can find out lots of interesting tidbits about lots of different things.

Years at Southport Antique Mall: In November I will start my 18th year with the mall.

Best antiquing tip: Enjoy the hunt

Favorite things about working at SAM: SAM makes me feel like I matter. We are one big family and I enjoy going to work. Not many people can say that. Also not many people can say they are BFF with their bosses! If you want to know how I feel about the mall just ask!

Funniest work experience: There are so many funny things that happen here everyday. Here’s a few that happened recently – A guy called and had wood checkers from 1894 and they were still in bubble wrap--Lady asked if we had manual typewriters. I said yes. She asked if they were electric. 

We asked Suzy's co-workers for one word to describe her: Jane: Loyal and Steadfast, Krissy: Dedicated, Geri: Honest, Alissa: Kind, giving and loving

You’re not the only one who gets to dress-up for Halloween, your house does too! You can spookify your house with decorations old and new. If you want a truly vintage look you can shop for paper mache pumpkins and other early 20th century décor or find your favorite childhood Halloween decorations and rock a retro Halloween. What could be more fun then making Halloween cookies with your kids or grandkids using the kind of cookie cutters you used when you were their age?  Shop Southport Antique Mall for items that can spark an old memory while making new ones. 

Lou Ann has been in the mall almost since the beginning. Lou Ann's booth is always fresh and new. You can find amazing primitives and quirky decorator pieces. We appreciate Lou Ann's dedication to her booth, she works her booth weekly and is there like clockwork. 
Be sure to stop by and check out all of the awesome things in 512!