Newkirk community to feature business Pop-Up

 

By Everett Brazil, III

The Newkirk Herald Journal

NEWKIRK — Locally-owned small businesses in Newkirk that are eager to reach potential customers will have a chance to connect with the area community in an upcoming Pop-Up event, to be held at the Kay County Courthouse Saturday, July 24 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The event is co-sponsored by M&S Advertising and Events, Blackwell, and Newkirk Main Street, Inc.

NMS Director Alyssa McCleery has wanted to do a Pop-Up event in Newkirk for several years, and saw an opportunity on Facebook through the “Let’s Talk Small Business (Kay County and Surrounding Counties)” page. The organization was already holding Pop-Up events across north central Oklahoma.

“They were hosting events throughout the county, but I noticed Newkirk was missing, so I contacted Shantel (Emerine),” McCleery said.

Matthew and Shantel Emerine own M&S Advertising and Events, an organization that seeks to improve local businesses in small towns like Newkirk and Blackwell.

“M&S Advertising hosts Pop Up events, advertising for small businesses, taking pictures of storefronts,” Shantel said. “I started doing Pop Ups to help small, locally-owned businesses to educate the community to know what products they offer.”

Many businesses were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and some were forced to close or work from home. Some were even forced to delay opening until more recently, so Emerine created the Facebook page to provide a forum for their businesses and customers.

“A lot of people got shut down (during the pandemic), so a lot of people worked from home,” she said. “They can come and post and talk about their business.”

She has also turned to Pop-Up events as a way to bring the community out to see the businesses in-person, instead of just online. Several have already been held in Enid, Blackwell, Medford, Ponca City and Tonkawa, and now one is coming to Newkirk.

“Pop-Ups are a form of advertising, and I wanted to help these small businesses,” Emerine said. “These Pop-Ups would not be possible without these small businesses attending.”

Many small-town businesses are expected to attend, with some having actual facilities, like Opal Nutrition, which opened earlier in the summer, to businesses that are more vendor-oriented, such as those that may set up at Charlie Adams Day offering clothing, jewelry, baked goods, candles and other decoratives.

“People seem to enjoy these businesses at various events throughout the year,” McCleery said.

Vendor fees are $20, with a portion of the fees benefitting NMS. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to attend, and will not be charged a fee.

It is hoped that there will be a strong community turnout to help the local business community.

“I’m ready so we can help the community of Newkirk,” Emerine said.

For more information, including to become a participating business, contact Emerine at (580) 262-9002.