Savannah Retailfest Boosts Local Businesses During Slow Season

Savannah’s Downtown Business Association hosted its inaugural Retailfest to support local businesses during the traditionally slow month of August, aiming to boost foot traffic and community engagement. The event featured a boutique-style pop-up market with eight local retailers, a live runway show highlighting Savannah-made styles, and panel discussions addressing challenges like attracting local customers and enhancing online presence. Business owners expressed concerns over declining local foot traffic and emphasized the importance of creativity, social media, and community events to sustain their operations. Retailfest also fostered new partnerships among business owners and sparked conversations about solutions to issues such as parking and safety. Organizers highlighted the importance of supporting small businesses to preserve downtown Savannah's unique character and entrepreneurship. The success of the inaugural event has led to plans for similar future events focused on sustaining local business growth year-round.