On Tuesday, June 23, the TSBDC Jackson Center awarded the owners of LD2 Consignment and Jewelry the Rising Star award. Co-owners Leah and Lesley Daniel purchased the business in 2017 with the assistance and guidance of the TSBDC.

According to Monique Merriweather, director of the TSBDC Jackson Center, the business receiving this award has taken the advice and counsel offered to them by the TSBDC. The business has a well thought out business plan, a successful business model, and are profitable.

“Leah and Lesley have led the way in small business and are taking the Jackson area and surrounding counties by storm with their innovation and willingness to help others,” said Merriweather. “We are proud of their enthusiasm and accomplishments over the past 3 years and wish them continued success.”

In May 2017, Leah and Lesley Daniel, with the help of the TSBDC Center – Jackson State Community College, purchased the M&M Consignment Shop on Vann Drive, in Jackson, Tennessee. They were able to secure a $55,000 SBA loan and the seller financed the $10,000 balance. The store opened in August 2017 after completing all of the renovations themselves. Two new jobs were created and three jobs retained.

Within 6 months, the store became a destination and the name was changed to LD2 Consignment and Jewelry. Leah and Lesley spent considerable time changing the concept of the business by accepting only quality merchandise for consignment. It did not take long for them to build a strong customer base. The volume in 2018 was $285,000; in 2019 it was $375,000.

In September of 2019, Leah’s and Lesley’s success enabled them to fulfill a dream of opening a store in downtown Jackson. Their goal was to make this store so unique that it would inspire others to move into the downtown area. They renovated a building with a $12,000 equity investment and created LD2 Market Shoppes that offers booths to mostly home-based businesses.

The downtown “Shoppes” opened in November of 2019 with 28 vendors. Today, this number is in excess of 70 vendors with room to add more. LD2 also provides its vendors with business services by recording the sales and paying sales taxes for the businesses.

Eventually, the plan is to add a coffee shop and to create an environment where people can relax and hang out before or after shopping. Leah and Lesley are still excited at the prospects of their downtown venture and look forward to many years of growth in the area.

On Tuesday, June 23, the TSBDC Jackson Center awarded the owners of LD2 Consignment and Jewelry the Rising Star award. Co-owners Leah and Lesley Daniel purchased the business in 2017 with the assistance and guidance of the TSBDC.

According to Monique Merriweather, director of the TSBDC Jackson Center, the business receiving this award has taken the advice and counsel offered to them by the TSBDC. The business has a well thought out business plan, a successful business model, and are profitable.

“Leah and Lesley have led the way in small business and are taking the Jackson area and surrounding counties by storm with their innovation and willingness to help others,” said Merriweather. “We are proud of their enthusiasm and accomplishments over the past 3 years and wish them continued success.”

In May 2017, Leah and Lesley Daniel, with the help of the TSBDC Center – Jackson State Community College, purchased the M&M Consignment Shop on Vann Drive, in Jackson, Tennessee. They were able to secure a $55,000 SBA loan and the seller financed the $10,000 balance. The store opened in August 2017 after completing all of the renovations themselves. Two new jobs were created and three jobs retained.

Within 6 months, the store became a destination and the name was changed to LD2 Consignment and Jewelry. Leah and Lesley spent considerable time changing the concept of the business by accepting only quality merchandise for consignment. It did not take long for them to build a strong customer base. The volume in 2018 was $285,000; in 2019 it was $375,000.

In September of 2019, Leah’s and Lesley’s success enabled them to fulfill a dream of opening a store in downtown Jackson. Their goal was to make this store so unique that it would inspire others to move into the downtown area. They renovated a building with a $12,000 equity investment and created LD2 Market Shoppes that offers booths to mostly home-based businesses.

The downtown “Shoppes” opened in November of 2019 with 28 vendors. Today, this number is in excess of 70 vendors with room to add more. LD2 also provides its vendors with business services by recording the sales and paying sales taxes for the businesses.

Eventually, the plan is to add a coffee shop and to create an environment where people can relax and hang out before or after shopping. Leah and Lesley are still excited at the prospects of their downtown venture and look forward to many years of growth in the area.

Due to direct exposure to a COVID 19 positive patient, the Jackson-Madison County Library will close both its Main Library and North Branch until further notice while staff quarantines per Health Department guidelines.

During this time, the library will not be offering curbside service and patrons are asked to keep their items until the library reopens. Both locations will also undergo additional sanitization.

“While we have taken precautions to ensure the safety of our staff and our patrons, we know that we are not immune to the effects of this virus,” said Dinah Harris, library director. “Given the guidelines for quarantining after direct exposure, we are unable to offer any services in person or curbside. We will encourage patrons to use our digital services during this time, as well as participating in our virtual summer library program through ReadSquared.”

The due dates on library items have been extended and no patron will incur any fines during this time. For more information on the library’s digital services, visit www.jmclibrary.org as well as the library’s social media channels. The library will also not have staff available to answer phones.

The Jackson-Madison County Library is located at 433 E. Lafayette St. in downtown Jackson and the North Branch is located at 8 Stonebridge Blvd next to China Pan Buffet. For more information, contact the Library at 731-425-8600, visit the Library’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/JMCLibrary or its website at www.jmclibrary.org.

Our July Video News begins with an important message from Jackson Chamber President/CEO Kyle Spurgeon. Look for new Jackson Chamber members, event updates, ribbon cuttings and find out more about D-Top Roofing and Repair with Pierre DuVentre in our Member Connection.

1. Artists must like @TennesseeCraft, @AmericanCraftWeek and @TNvacation on Instagram and include #TCWContest2020 with submitted photos.
2. All entries with the correct hashtag and “likes,” posted between June 1-30, 2020, will be eligible for the contest.
3. Photographs should have a clear focus, good color, and thoughtful composition in a 1:1 ratio. Photos must be taken in high-resolution for printing purposes.
4. The focus of the photo should be the artwork, with a landscape in the background. Only original photographs are accepted.
5. By participating in the contest, artists/photographers agree to the use of their photos to promote Tennessee Craft Week.

Empire Theatres in Jackson, Tennessee, at 1511 Vann Dr. is reopening on Friday, June 26th! They are excited to be welcoming back West Tennessee movie buffs and cinema fans.

For the first two weeks, Empire will be showing classic films for audiences of all ages. Movies such as "The Goonies," "Trolls: World Tour," "I Still Believe," "Back to the Future," and "The Avengers" are just a few that will be on the lineup. The theatre will open 30 minutes before the first movie of the day, and close 30 minutes after the end of the last movie.

Entrance into any film at any time will be $5 per person.

Leah and Lesley Daniel, center, show off the 2019 Rising Star Award with Joel Newman, left, and Monique Merriweather, right.

LD2 Market Shoppes is the recipient of the 2019 Rising Star Award from the Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC)/Jackson State Community College (JSCC). The award was presented to Leah and Lesley Daniel, owners, by Monique Merriweather, director of the TSBDC and Joel Newman, senior small business specialist for the TSBDC. The award is given annually to recognize a client that exemplifies outstanding growth as a result of the help provided by the TSBDC/JSCC.

“We have worked hard to build our business and proud that we have expanded it into Downtown Jackson,” says Lesley Daniel. “We appreciate the help, guidance and support we have received from Joel Newman and look forward to his continued support.”

LD2 Market Shoppes has over 60 vendors under one roof with items ranging from men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories to home décor, signs, dog toys and pet supplies, candles, monogramming, unique handmade items and more.

LD2 Market Shoppes is located at 215 N. Church Street in downtown Jackson and open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find them on Facebook at LD2 Market Shoppes or call (731) 240-1658.