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Clarksville Marketplace brings small businesses together

Posted 12:38 PM, Mar 12, 2019
and last updated 12:52 PM, Mar 12, 2019

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — With big box stores and online retail, how can local businesses compete? Now one city is banding together -- one small store at a time.

"We started off because we're local business owners. We're like, there's nothing really in Clarksville that's connecting the businesses to the community," said Kacie Bryant, co-founder of the Clarksville Marketplace.

Kacie Bryant and Tara Curtis have a heart for local stores.

"Anybody is welcome to get into our big hug that we have going on," said Bryant.

They started Clarksville Marketplace to showcase the latest and greatest in local shopping and dining for both buyers and sellers.

"Being a military town, we have a large transient population, so it makes it really hard for the local businesses to have any traction because people are always coming in and out," said co-founder, Tara Curtis, "Businesses fail and a lot of times it's just people don't know about them."

Would-be shoppers can access the marketplace online or on the app. Sellers can host live videos, answer questions and promote upcoming events.

Brick and mortar stores featured on the platform even get a red heart to put on the door and say the marketplace is the best thing to hit to downtown.

"I call it 'the heart squad,'" said business owner Jody Issacs, "I couldn't support them more and I think they have been the biggest blessing to our community."