Greenville, SC

 

Get Out More Tour Returns to Greenville
Wednesday, May 22nd, at 6 p.m.


The pages of Backpacker Magazine come to life when the Get Out More Team visits the Mast General Store in Downtown Greenville on Wednesday, May 22nd at 6 p.m.   This interactive mobile media and education outreach program is designed to inspire readers and encourage participation in active outdoor pursuits. The 2013 Get Out More Tour is celebrating Backpacker Magazine’s 40th anniversary.

Randy and Sheri Propster, the Get Out More Tour ambassadors, provide tips and techniques to help individuals at any level better enjoy the outdoors. From trip planning to choosing the right outdoor gear and apparel to staying safe while on the trail, information is shared from personal experience.

The Team is set to arrive at the Mast Store at 4 p.m. to answer questions with the 75-minute seminar beginning at 6 p.m. This year’s sponsors feature many familiar brands in the outdoor arena including Sawyer, PrimaLoft, Vasque, Clif, and Deuter among many others.

“We'll be offering information and inspiration for folks planning their First Night Out or their Next Night Out. And to add to the excitement and to further drive the desire to get out and apply their new knowledge, we’ll be giving away tons of free gear,” shares Randy Propster.

This stop is one of over 60 locations across the United States to host this free seminar providing skill, gear and trip advice to encourage everyone to make time to enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities in their own areas. Randy and Sheri’s explorations will allow them to share their personal experiences from each adventure aimed at travelling light, enhancing weekend getaways, and going on long excursions as they guide audiences from the first step in the planning process to the final step on trail.

The team will be in the store beginning at 4 p.m. to answer your questions and their formal presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. If you miss this opportunity, the Backpacker Magazine Get Out More Tour will also be stopping at Mast Stores in Knoxville (May 14) and Columbia (May 23).
 

 

 

One of the many pleasures of spring is transitioning out of bulky winter wear into lighter, warm weather clothing. As you put away your winter boots and replace them with summer sandals, check to see if there are any shoes cluttering your home.  Instead of stowing your unwanted pairs at the back of the closet, share them with those who need them at Mast Store’s sixth annual Sharing Our Shoes collection campaign going on now through May 31.

Donating your shoes is not only a gift to those in need, it’s a gracious act on behalf of the environment.  Last year alone, Americans discarded millions of pairs of shoes. “We all have unused shoes with many miles left in them,” said Fred Martin, president of the Mast Store. “Local charitable organizations help many individuals who have no way to buy shoes for themselves or their family. At this time, there is so much need. Our employees and our customers are always so generous and eager to share what they have with the people who matter to us most – our neighbors.”

As you gather your family’s extra shoes during spring cleaning, drop by Mast General Store and deposit them in one of the Sharing Our Shoes bins located in the front of the store.  Mast will distribute the shoes to a community partner at the end of the month. De-clutter your closet, reduce the strain on our environment, and lend a helping hand to your neighbors this May by answering the SOS and sharing your shoes at Mast General Store.
 


 

Boston Love Shirts Arrive at Mast Store

From Mast General Store's Graphics Buyer: “Our community and employees have spoken! We have just finalized our Boston Love Tee in honor of those impacted by the tragedy on April 15th. Life is Good is donating 100% of their profits from the Boston Love Tee to The One Fund Boston. We hope the t-shirt will help people all over the country begin to heal with Boston while conveying a message of unification to our community that "Nothing is Stronger than LOVE.”

From The Boston Globe on April 25th:
Life is Good, whose Boylston Street office was less than 40 feet from the second bomb blast, sold 15,000 T-shirts in just two days on its website and at two stores; the company is delivering the shirt to hundreds of franchise stores and wholesale customers this week.

On Thursday, Judy Scott, visiting from Maylene, Ala., bought two T-shirts at Life is Good on Newbury Street as she waited, cellphone in hand, to hear whether her three kids wanted them as well. She also bought two Boston Strong T-shirts¬ at Cheers.

“This is one way we can let people in Boston know we’re supporting them from around the country,” Scott said.

Boston Love men’s and women’s t-shirts are being sold in all Mast Stores. These shirts are sold at the unique price of $26.20 to represent the distance of the marathon. To find out more about The One Fund, click HERE. In short, the goal is to dispense all proceeds to the bombing victims and their families by June 30th.


 

 

Mast Store in Greenville Celebrates a
 Decade on Main Street

Way back in 2003, a number of monumental occasions occurred: the governor of California was recalled and replace via election by Arnold Schwarzenegger; the Human Genome Project successfully mapped 99% of the human genome; the Concorde made its last commercial flight; and the Mast General Store opened its newest old location in Downtown Greenville.
 
Located at 111 North Main Street, the Mast General Store is in one of downtown’s most famous retail locations. Known as the Meyers-Arnold Building by longtime Greenvillians, the structure dates back to the late 1890s.
 
During an opening night event, several members of the Meyers family came by to visit the store. Mrs. Betty Meyers said that when she came through the doors her heart jumped into her throat when she saw how beautiful it was. She, her daughter, and her son all shared memories of “growing up in the store.”
 
The Mast Store is an employee-owned company with roots in the rural North Carolina mountains. Its flavor brings the country to the city in a relaxed atmosphere that makes shopping a real treat.
 
There are eight staff members who have been at the Mast Store in Greenville since its opening day, and they have seen a lot happen on Main Street.
 
“Twenty-five years ago, Greenville leaders envisioned and invested in the future of downtown,” said Anita Moore, a senior sales associate. “We are grateful to be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor today.” She also commented that she cemented a friendship with another original employee, Mary Alice Shand, as they folded t-shirts for eight hours prior to opening. “Mary Alice started working here when it was Meyers-Arnold.”
 
Eddie Poore, mercantile manager, said “The first year our store opened one of my favorite guests brought her two young children to the candy department. I’ve enjoyed watching them change and grow with each visit over a decade.”
 
On the subject of candy, it seems that it was a recent discovery in Greenville 10 years ago. Within the first month, the candy department sold tons, that’s TONS, of candy. People stopping by during lunches just couldn’t resist a walk down Memory Lane.
 
Debbie Constance and Mary Katherine Capuano both commented on how proud they are to be at the Mast Store and in Downtown Greenville, which has been recognized as one of the top Main Streets in the United States.  They see the increased foot traffic in the downtown area every day with visitors ranging from locals and those visiting from the southeast to international travelers and celebrities.
 
Since 2003, Downtown Greenville has continued to flourish with new retail venues, restaurants, and attractions like the Falls Park, which re-opened in 2004, Fluor Field, which brought minor league baseball downtown in 2006, and the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum, which honors one of Greenville’s native sons.
 
“The growth in business and in tourism in Downtown Greenville has been huge,” said Mary Nase, general manager. “We’re all excited to be a part of it, and it has been a fabulous lifetime experience for me.”
 

 

Downtown Alive Weekly Music Series Returns

Beginning March 21st, from 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m., this 24 week music series is held at the Hyatt Plaza in Downtown Greenville. Main Street serves as the perfect backdrop to this free event, where people can unwind by meeting friends, making new acquaintances, and relaxing. It’s an outdoor street party featuring live musical entertainment with varied sounds including rock, blues, funk and cover bands.

A total of approximately 45,000 people attend this event annually and it is the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council. Visit this website to find out more.
 


 

Enjoying Our Neighbors at Mast General Store



 

An All-American Partnership

Mt. Airy sock manufacturer, Nester, and Mast General Store have led parallel lives since our companies began collaborating in the early nineties. As family-owned, environmentally-responsible companies that go the extra mile to provide quality products for their communities and beyond, both Mast and Nester are proud of their American roots.

Nearly twenty years ago, as the textile industry was collapsing in the southeast, the Nesters brought their family together, purchased a closed knitting facility, and hired workers left behind when other plants closed.

Nester maintained operations in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, during a period when similar local industries moved their operations to foreign countries or shuttered their doors completely. Beginning with 25 employees, Nester now maintains a force of over 225 experienced, dedicated and well-trained American workers. In a national address last year, President Obama praised Nester Hosiery for “insourcing” American jobs.

Mast Store Outfitters socks began as a collaborative effort between Mast General Store and Nester in its infancy. Mast President, Fred Martin, shares, “We got together and designed a sock that’s soft to the touch, durable, and affordable too. Collaborating on the design, fit and packaging, this sock has become a favorite among our guests and associates alike. We strongly believe in the craftsmanship of this product, which is why every pair comes with a lifetime warranty.

“As Nester has grown over the years, we’ve grown with them. They now build socks for American companies like REI, Cabela’s, KEEN, and LL Bean among many others,” Martin continues. “We [at Mast] are always eager to support economic drivers in our region, as well as helping to support a company that values keeping manufacturing on our shores. Our partnership is one that we are both very proud of.”