Shoppers pick up classic items
FARMINGTON – Out of all the items on display at the official PGA Tour 84 Lumber Classic merchandise tents, sunscreen, hats and binoculars were the top sellers, according to representatives, according to workers from the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa retail department who were in charge of selling the items. Beth Dalson said many spectators who stopped in the merchandise tent near the 18th tee were also interested in purchasing markers, as well as 84 Lumber Classic flags to have autographed by the golfers.
Dalson, who works in the retail department, said many people will wait until the end of the day to purchase shirts, pullovers, mugs, tees and other various items embroidered or stamped with the 84 Lumber Classic logo.
Spectators, Dalson said, seemed to only be buying items they needed for the day. The most sought after item was binoculars, she said, adding that she thought the other memorabilia-type items would sell more toward the end of the tournament.
“They don’t want to have to carry stuff around with them,” she said. “Right now the spectators are just buying what they need for today. They’ll come back later for the other stuff.”
Although there were people strolling through the grassy field, stopping to look at items various vendors had for sell, there weren’t that many people purchasing items.
However, Mary J. McKee, owner of MJM Specialties in Uniontown, said the craft festival got off to a slow start last year.
McKee, who had scented hand poured candles and other accessories for sale at her booth, said she’s sure business will pick up as the weekend approaches.
“Thursday was slow last year, but it got packed during the weekend,” she said.
McKee said she was excited to participate in the festival this year and said she was honored to sell her items at a world-class resort.
In addition to McKee’s booth, other vendors were selling everything from sandstone sculptures to flower arrangements, from intricate woodcarvings to clothing accessories.
The stone for the sandstone sculptures, according to artist Ren Haydon of Monroeville, is imported from Arizona and Utah. He said it can, at times, be hard to sell the sculptures, that range in price from $1,000 to $2,500.
“It’s a real crap shoot, you just don’t know,” he said.
However, when someone sees a sculpture they like, Haydon said they usually “fall in love with it and have to have it,” he said.
Haydon said he has sold sculptures to people from all over the United States, Europe, Canada and the Middle East, and said he hopes they will be well received by the golf crowd at Nemacolin.
Like Haydon, John R. Garton of Garton Originals from Petersburg, W.Va., is also selling unique pieces of art during the festival, one of which is a 6 foot tall moose carved out of wood that doubles as liquor cabinet. He is selling it for $150,000, and said he plans on carving a life-size bear that will double as a refrigerator and a elk that will double was a wet bar.
Garton said he carves all of his creations from West Virginia basswood, pine and walnut. Although he said he doesn’t often participate in craft festivals, he said he thought the 84 Lumber Classic would be a good opportunity to show his pieces, which range from $250 to $150,000.
“A lot of work,” he said, “goes into every carving.”