CoolSculpting in Moncks Corner, SC

The 3rd annual Pickin’ in the Corner brought out all kinds of shoppers to browse down Main Street in Moncks Corner. There were experts in antiques, beginners, treasure hunters and bargain shoppers.

There was an array of items to choose from; some new and some used. Some people came out to scan what was being offered to pass the time while pushing the stroller. Others, though, are full-fledged “stuff” addicts. They love hunting for something unique, that hidden gem no one else can see sparkle.

It excites the senses for those like Jamie Harris, who is also known as the Lowcountry Commoner. Harris notes she is usually a customer at such events, but is now beginning to sell her wares; it’s a budding business idea. She set up a booth in Moncks Corner, it’s her first time. She also sells on eBay and Instagram. Her goal over the next five years is to open a hybrid bookstore and antique shop.

“Basically, I love things. I cannot stop going to thrift stores, picking things up, and giving them as gifts. This summer, I realized I have too many things, so I’m starting this now as a side-hustle,” she said while keeping a side-eye on her booth for customers. “For Moncks Corner, this is great. The weather is perfect, and everyone is really nice and sweet. I think it’s a good mix of antiques and crafts, food and knick-knacks. It’s been great.”

The event on Saturday, Nov. 15, also hosts longtime sellers and buyers of thrifts and antiques. One of those is the owner of Collectors Corner Antiques on Main Street in Moncks Corner. The town partnered with the shop for the picking event. James “Bubba” Elliot and his wife took over the store in 2020.

“We moved forward and jumped into it,” Elliot said. “It’s really caught good traction just getting out there, making the connections with people, and finding the stuff, and you have to adapt. A lot of people aren’t into antiques. You have to find out what they want. Antiques aren’t dead. People now like buying an antique and building around it. People don’t fill their houses with it anymore. We go and look for this stuff because we don’t want it to die.”

James said, while standing out front of his store, that they work to find the good stuff. But events like Pickin’ in the Corner are a win-win for them; they get to network with others and also make some sales.

“This is major for the community,” he said. “We want to promote our store and let people see what we’ve got, and it’s helped to educate people, and the stories behind stuff are great. It really churns people’s interest.”

SC Works Trident once again took a two-pronged approach to aggregate more job seekers into the area’s hiring pool, with one being hosting an event designed to demonstrate that the job market is accessible to everyone. The conventional job fair for the public took place, also providing those with disabilities an opportunity to meet with hiring managers.

The Disability Employment Resource Expo & Job Fair at the Vocational Rehabilitation Center in Moncks Corner on October 8 was well-attended.

It started at 10:30 a.m. and within 15 minutes, the center’s large gathering area was filled. The hum of pleasant chatter filled the room from the start, indicating that such an event is a vital avenue for job seekers and employers.

“It’s very important that there is a need for more workers. It benefits both the economy and cities and towns. This is a big event, and we try to push to get people to come,” said Dave Tam, from the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, an agency that was an organizer of the job fair. "My focus is on bridging the gap between the employer and job seeker.”

The gap is somewhat wider for those seeking stable, well-paying employment. Well-represented at the employment event were individuals with disabilities. Their sign language interpreters accompanied some, while others used wheelchairs to visit the various tables where employers were set up.

The Vocational Rehabilitation Department, a state agency, focuses on establishing relationships between hiring managers with open positions and those with challenges.

“Our primary focus is to help individuals with disabilities find and maintain employment,” said Kevin Clemmons, the business specialist for the Vocational Rehabilitation Department. “We also help make jobs available and employment accessible to everyone.”

Businesses in the private sector and local government agencies were meeting with job seekers on the floor. More than 15 employers and community partners attended the fair, and almost every table had conversations in progress. What’s more, the month of October is the National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

“It’s very impactful. Sometimes people with disabilities think they don’t have enough to offer an employer, and that is not the case,” Clemmons said. “They can be just as valuable to an employer as anybody else. We want them to understand that value and show them that they can contribute.”