Newspaper employees will be on hand Wednesday in the parking lot of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel and at Stacey’s Dance Studio, 205 Pike St., in Marietta, with advance packages of holiday ad inserts, a pre-holiday tradition that will continue. (File photo)
PARKERSBURG — A tradition continues at The Parkersburg News and Sentinel and The Marietta Times with the annual advance sale of inserts announcing holiday sales.
The inserts will be sold Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the side parking lot of The News and Sentinel at 519 Juliana St. and for The Times at Stacey’s Dance Studio, 205 Pike St., in Marietta, said Kat Lankford, director of circulation. . of the two local newspapers.
Newspapers have held pre-Thanksgiving insert sales for eight years. Called Black Friday when companies can do most of their business for the year, Friday is the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.
“By getting listings early, shoppers can plan their Friday activities a day early and use all available savings.” Lanford said.
Numerous offers are detailed in the ads, he said.
A package of inserts is $5 and contains all the ads that will appear in The News and The Times in the Thanksgiving edition. People can buy as many packs as they want, Lankford said.
About 500 packages will be available and will be split between the Marietta and Parkersburg locations, Lankford said.
Listings in the Parkersburg insert package include Kohl’s, Ashley Homestore, Dunham’s Sports, Lemon and Barrett’s, Belk, Rural King, Shoe Carnival, Rite Aid, Ollie’s, West Virginia Symphony in Parkersburg, Washington County Career Center, Bob’s Market and Greenhouse , Smith and Company Vintage Market, Carmichael Monuments, Wyngate Senior Living Community, Worthington Golf Club, Quality Exteriors, Vaughan Kimes Funeral Home, Auto Aid, Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, West Virginia University Parkersburg, Dowler’s Tractor Sales and Service, Lemons Farm Equipment, Country Roads Cabins, Lambert -Tatman Funeral Home, Charleston Ballet, CSL PLAsma, King’s Corner, Kaufman’s Country Bakery, Moose Lodge 1118, Myers Funeral Home, Teri Ann’s, Teresa’s Tours, and Stuart’s Opera House.
The Marietta package will contain Aldi, Ashley Homestore, Dollar General, Dunham’s Sports, Kroger, Belk, Lowe’s, Rural King, Rite Aid, Ollie’s, Warren’s IGA, West Virginia University in Parkersburg, Las Trancas Mexican Restaurant, Lemon’s Farm Equipment, Quality Exteriors , Bob’s Market and Greenhouse, Go Bus, Westfall Construction and Garage Doors, King’s Corner, Washington County Career Center, Smoker Friendly, Country Roads Cabins, Kauffman’s Country Bakery, Starkey Soft Water Inc., Kirby Monument.
Traffic flow will be maintained at both sales sites, Lankford said. Customers are asked to remain in their vehicle and drive to the driver’s-side sales desk, he said.
Non-perishable food and cash collections will also be accepted for the Feed Seniors Now campaign sponsored by Comfort Keepers. The food drive benefits local seniors during the winter when it is hard to leave the house.
Newspapers are proud to be a part of this food drive, he said.
“Find it in your heart to donate as much and as often as you can”, Lanford said. “There are a lot of people in this area that need help.”