100 Mile Yard Sale with 500+ Vendors

Selma, NC, June 11, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Less than 10 days from now on June 20th, the 301 Endless Yard Sale (100-miles) will open and will become the largest yard sale in North Carolina history. What started as an idea from retailer Tommy Abdalla and Selma Mayor Cheryl Oliver has morphed into a multi-county event that grows every day. New vendor locations are added each day and families, churches and non-profits join in the excitement to host this event.

"Patterned after several existing yard sales, like the World’s Longest Yard Sale held in August each year running from Michigan to Alabama along highway 127, goals for the 301 sale are to expand to the state’s borders within the next two years," said Donna Bailey-Taylor, CEO, Johnston County Visitors Bureau, "This isn't a new idea as there are over ten similar sales around the country, but this sale is gaining popularity fast with thousands of yard sale enthusiasts."

The 301 Endless Yard Sale planning committee has been meeting since January with representatives from Roanoke Rapids, Wilson, Johnston County towns along US 301 and Dunn. Each month more and more businesses want to be a part of the event, restaurants are gearing up for massive sales, and hotels are offering special rates for visitors traveling here to either bring their treasures for sale…or treasure hunters headed here to see if they can do the entire 100-mile stretch. Brochures have been distributed, classified ads are running, banners have been printed — everything is moving towards a huge turn out.

Inquiring minds want to know — just how many vendors will you have along US HWY 301? How many people attended last year — and how many do you expect this year? Last year just in Johnston County, estimates exceeded 150 vendors and the number of participants was in the 1000s. The highway was literally bumper to bumper for two days. So this year organizers are encouraging more parking at vendor locations to move vehicles off the highway and are letting local law enforcement/EMS and service businesses to route their deliveries along I-95 and not US Highway 301.

With four counties and 100 miles of yard sale — this year there may be as many as 500 vendors and many other family yard sales setting up on their own. As far as the number of yard sale shoppers look for four times the numbers from last year, so expect 10,000 shoppers to be along the highway from Roanoke Rapids to Dunn. This year, there will be surveys with vendors and for visitor feedback to learn more information like:

How far did you travel to the sale? City, State demographic information.
Expenditure and sales information.
Did you stay in a local hotel, campground, or stay with friends and family?
What would you suggest to the organizers of the event to make it better?

Look for some fun social media contests during the event with Facebook posts for the best “buy” during the Yard Sale, with prizes from the destinations for winners. This event is coordinated by the local Convention & Visitors Bureaus in Halifax, Wilson, Johnston and Harnett Counties with several town officials to provide services like signage, vendor coordination, and special event permits.

"Thanks to everyone that has made this event happen, good luck to our treasure hunters and we are wishing everyone a fun and safe event," stated Bailey-Taylor.

For more information on the event and to make plans to attend, visit the website, www.301endlessyardsale.com