Newspaper employees will be out in force on Wednesday in the parking lot of The Parkersburg News and Sentinel and at Stacey’s Dance Studio, 205 Pike St., in Marietta, with advance packs 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 advertising holiday deals.
The inserts will be sold from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at 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, circulation director of the two hometown newspapers.
The newspapers have held pre-Thanksgiving sales of inserts for eight years. Friday, dubbed Black Friday when businesses, can do most of their business of the year, is the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season.
“By getting the ads ahead of time, shoppers can plan their Friday activities a day early and use all the savings available,” Lankford said.
Numerous bargains are detailed in the advertisements, she said.
A pack of inserts is $5 and contains all the advertisements that will appear in The News and The Times in the Thanksgiving Day edition. People can buy as many packs as they want, Lankford said.
About 500 packs will be available and split between the Marietta and Parkersburg locations, Lankford said.
Ads in the Parkersburg insert pack include Kohl’s, Ashley Homestore, Dunham’s Sports, Lemon and Barrett’s, Belk, Rural King, Shoe Carnival, Rite Aid, Ollie’s, West Virginia Symphony at 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 at 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 pack 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 at Parkersburg, Las Trancas Mexican Restaurant, Lemon’s Farm Equipment, Quality Exteriors, Bob’s Market and Greenhouse, Go Bus, Westfall Construction and Garage Doors, Mountain Ears Hearing Clinic, King’s Corner, Washington County Career Center, Carmichael Monuments, Smoker Friendly, Country Roads Cabins, Kauffman’s Country Bakery, Starkey Soft Water Inc. and Kirby Monument.
The flow of traffic will be maintained at both sales sites, Lankford said. Customers are asked to remain in their vehicle and drive to the sales table on the driver’s side, she said.
Collections of non-perishable food items and cash also will be accepted for the Feed Seniors Now campaign sponsored by Comfort Keepers. The food drive benefits local seniors during winter when it is difficult to get out of the house.
The newspapers are proud to be part of this food drive, she said.
“Find it in your hearts to donate as much and as often as you can,” Lankford said. “There are many people in this area who need help.”