GREENSBORO, NC - Celebrate the women behind your favorite Friendly Center businesses! On Galentine's Day, Saturday, February 13, we're welcoming local ladies and their gal pals for a day of shopping and special offers at participating women-owned retailers. 

From 11am - 1pm, guests are invited to stop by the Gathering Area to snap a selfie at the Valentine's Day "LOVE' installation, pick up their complimentary mini floral bouquet, and check out chances to win sweet prizes, all while supporting women in business. 

According to a Fundera report, women entrepreneurship has grown 114% over the last 20 years. The trend is evident locally, with Greensboro Chamber of Commerce membership increasing from 45% women owned in 2018 to 58% in 2020. The growth in female-owned businesses has also been the trend at Friendly Center with the addition of Curvi Milieux, Ever Be Floral and Scent Workshop to the center's retail mix in late 2020. In fact, of the more than 30 North Carolina-owned businesses at Friendly Center, 80% are also women-owned.

"On Galentine's Day, a day created to honor the importance of female friendship, we wanted to shine light on our many female businesses and provide the community an easy way to support them," shares Marketing Director, Sarah Kotelnicki. "More than ever, people are looking for ways to celebrate friendship, so as shoppers search for gifts to show their loved ones they care, we hope they also see an opportunity to show their support for local and women-owned businesses."

The National Retail Federation reports Valentine's Day spending projections to total $21.8 billion with an average spend of $164.76. Both projections are near record highs coming in as the second highest project in the survey's history. "There is no question the pandemic has disrupted many aspects of Americans' daily interaction and activities. However, there remains a special significance around Valentine's Day, and consumers are committed to celebrating friends and loved ones, even if that means having to alter those traditional holiday celebrations," lends NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay in the report's release.

Just like in our real-life friendships and celebrations, we'll be there, rain or shine. We hope you'll join us in creating new traditions that celebrate loved ones. Discount cards and floral bouquets will be available from 11am - 1pm for the first 100 guests at the Gathering Area between Ben & Jerry's and Harris Teeter at The Shops at Friendly Center. The selfie station, provided by AlphaLit-Triad and Hip Hip Hooray Balloons, also both women-owned Triad businesses, will be up through Valentine's Day at 5pm. The community is invited to stop by to capture sweet family memories with the light installation throughout the weekend.

Distancing practices in the Gathering Area are in place, as well as the mask ordinance, and specific retailer capacity limits will be enforced at each store per their guidelines. 

About Friendly Center
The Friendly Center retail complex is a complete lifestyle shopping, dining and entertainment experience featuring Aerie, Anthropologie, Apple, Athleta, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, lululemon, Sephora, Ulta, White House | Black Market, Williams-Sonoma, West Elm and restaurants including The Cheesecake Factory,  BRAVO! Cucina Italiana and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. The complex, which boasts over 1.3 million square feet, is anchored by Belk, Macy’s, Sears, The Grande Cinema, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Old Navy, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods and REI. Adding to the retail mix, Friendly Center is home to several offices, service providers and two fitness centers. For more information, please visit www.FriendlyCenter.com or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FriendlyCenter and Instagram at @shopfriendlycenter. Friendly Center is owned and operated by CBL Properties [NYSE:CBL] of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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