AMESBURY — Visitors and locals alike can shop until they drop in downtown Amesbury during the third annual ROMP shopping event on May 30.
The event, hosted by local boutique owner Jen Silver of Caravan, will have over a dozen participating retailers from Sweet Cheeks, a cookie shop, to Brewery Silvaticus to shops like Lee & Co.
Silver said all participating retailers, with the exception of the brewery, will be open at 10 a.m., and the first 10 customers at participating stores will receive a gift bag that contains merchandise.
“So, you’re going to pick your route. You’re going to choose one of the retailers on the list, and your goal is to be there first in line. One of the first 10 people to make a purchase gets this bag full of goodies from that particular shop, the person pays full price for whatever purchase they get to receive that bag,” she said.
The bags, which are designed and printed locally, will also signify to other participating retailers that the customer is eligible for a discount in their stores, which is typically around 15% off, Silver said.
“The bag is the discount ticket. So, when you see that bag, any of the retailers that are participating, they see that and they’ll give you the discount that they’re offering,” she said.
Silver said the inspiration for the ROMP stemmed from a similar event in Newburyport.
“We were inspired, and made some tweaks that fit our town a little bit better. And so, the goal is really just to drive knowledge about the different retailers in downtown and bring some new bodies into downtown, and celebrate our customers who are already here,” she said.
Now, the biggest ROMP yet is only weeks away, and will likely be a successful day for local business owners, as has been the case in years past.
“Several retailers have lines waiting for their shops to open, and it’s one of the best retail days in downtown Amesbury for sure,” Silver said.
Renee Terry, owner of Sweet Cheeks, said the event shines a light on a variety of local businesses.
“I just love how it spreads the love around the retailers in Amesbury,” she said.
Specifically, Terry said the event allows business owners to engage with new customers.
“It creates that sense of community, and it also opens the door to new customers that are walking in that might not have heard of you before, maybe they’ve never seen you, or maybe they’ve just wanted to come in, but they just haven’t had an opportunity until that day,” she said.
Those interested in learning more about the event can visit Caravan’s website: ishopcaravan.com/pages/romp-amesbury