It's Not Just About the Money

June 11, 2008

Periwinkle, a downtown upscale resale clothing store for women, celebrates its first anniversary this month. Downtown's first Third Thursday event on June 19 will kick off three days of food, fun, contests, and entertainment.

Linda Warner, Periwinkle's owner and a retired city school teacher, is proud to be a part of the revitalization of downtown Klamath Falls. "I love to see how our downtown has changed and improved since my husband and I moved here in 1984. It's a great place to work and shop - and we have great restaurants downtown too! A beautiful, thriving city center is essential to the livability of the entire Basin. We all benefit from this kind of growth and development - whether we live in town or out in the suburbs."

Warner believes in action, not just words. Shortly after she opened her doors last summer, she took up the cause of keeping Third Thursdays alive downtown. "One of the reasons I chose a downtown location for Periwinkle was because of Third Thursday. I just couldn't stand the thought of them not happening. Third Thursdays are an important part of the whole downtown culture." The Klamath Arts Council will sponsor the Third Thursdays in June, July, and August. Warner will coordinate the event for September.

Supporting local causes is part of Periwinkle's philosophy of giving back. Twenty percent of every purchase during Third Thursday events goes to three of the charities Warner supports: Assistance League's Operation School Bell, Citizens for Safe Schools, and the AAUW Scholarship Fund. Periwinkle's "Consign for a Cause" gives customers the opportunity to consign clothing and have their profits go the charity of their choice. After Hours Shopping Parties also raise money for charity and save shoppers money at the same time. Periwinkle opened its doors full time in July 2007, and in six short months it gave over $1000 to local charities such as Friends of Pets, Klamath Greenways Foundation, and the Kid Center.

Warner explains her commitment to giving back. "I wanted my shop to be something more than just a money-making retail endeavor. Klamath Falls has been such a wonderful place to live and work. It's important to me to give to local causes that need a helping hand, and I'm thankful I can do that."

For additional information contact Warner at 205-4396 or email periwinkle@fireserve.net. Periwinkle's website is www.periwinkleresale.com.