JOHNSTOWN —
The 7th Annual Women’s Showcase and 3rd Annual Bagtastic Event opened Saturday at noon, quickly filling the Pasquerilla Conference Center in downtown Johnstown with a mob of deal-hungry and fashion-savvy shoppers.
Although there were thousands of gently used purses collected by The Tribune-Democrat in the weeks leading up to the event – vintage, designer, nondesigner, summer, winter, beaded and fabric – Mary Anne Rizzo, director of sales and advertising for The Tribune-Democrat, said the event is much more than just shopping. It’s the quintessential ladies’ day out.
“We try to make sure there are new things so women come back year after year,” she said. “We want them to spend the day and have fun.”
That’s exactly how Jean McAleer, of Tanneryville, spent the day with her two girlfriends.
They stopped by Scott’s By Dam for lunch before putting her eyes on the prize – literally.
During the event’s final-hour “Basket Bash,” a huge giveaway of gift baskets from local merchants, McAleer’s full array of black and gold Steelers garb made for a charming win when she took home one of the larger prizes – a basket stuffed full of Steelers swag.
“I did a fast-through of the purses,” McAleer said, although she said she didn’t find anything she liked.
But to her and her entourage, who started attending the showcase last year, that doesn’t matter.
“It’s just fun,” she said. “I think this is great. We’ll be back every year now that we know about it.”
Ivy Faust, of Lorain Borough, didn’t just walk out with three new purses – she took home the single-entry, grand “Basket Bash” prize: A vacation for two to an accommodated destination of her choosing. She said she and her friends “love” basket parties.
“But, this really tops it off, though,” she said. “(I feel) fantastic. I didn’t expect it.
“I can’t wait to get online and see where I’m going to go,” she said.
The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown Magazine and Learning Lamp LLC form the annual event to support Learning Lamp and The Tribune-Democrat’s Newspapers in Education program. Proceeds from the event are split between the organizations.
This year, the number of on-hand volunteers for the event continued to climb, according to Angela Rizzo, development director for Learning Lamp LLC.
“This is one of the events that we actually get a ton of volunteers for in advance,” she said.
“Because they want to see the purses that we’re getting and be able to be here during the event because it’s a really fun event.”
Rizzo also admitted she’s somewhat guilty of purse-sniping each year, too.
“I usually wait every year and get my purses here,” she said with a laugh.
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Related Photos
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A Learning Lamp volunteer makes a last-minute purse purchase at the 7th Annual Women’s Showcase Saturday at the Pasquerilla Conference Center along Napoleon Street Justin Dennis
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The crowd anxiously awaits the raffle drawings. Justin Dennis
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Jean McAleer, of Tanneryville, was dressed for success when she took home one of the largest gift basket giveaways, which was stuffed with Pittsburgh Steelers swag, at the 7th Annual Women's Showcase Saturday at the Pasquerilla Conference Center along Napoleon Street. Justin Dennis
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