Lakeside Mercantile Breaks Out for Our July 2021 LakeLeader of the Month

There’s been a resurgence of business in the Cedar Creek lakeside community of Malakoff, Texas over the past few years.  One fast growing retail shop, our LakeLeader of the Month, out grew their original space before their first-year anniversary and Lakeside Mercantile has led the way with innovation and outreach over the past 12 months.

Lakeside Mercantile became known as your Cedar Creek headquarters for Family Fun and Outdoor Living along with fabulous and affordable fashion accessories. But, today, they’re so much more!  And that’s part of their success story and why Lakeside Mercantile is our July LakeLeader of the Month.

From the beginning, Husband and wife team Jana Zeeb and Dennis Reed knew they needed to take an active sales and marketing approach if they were to be successful at their original location.  Jana explains that after securing their retail space, at 112 East Mitcham Street, she knew that , for them to survive, let alone succeed, she could not sit back and wait for customers find her.  She was going to need to create a marketing outreach plan that would engage with the community; probably in several different ways.

So, Jana came up with a three step plan based on 1.  Community  Outreach, 2.  Lake-Area Partner Marketing and 3. Retail Innovation.  

Community Outreach

Giving back to the community had always been important to this Cedar Creek couple. Jana and Dennis have always had a love for animals and especially a fondness for pets.  Over the years, they’ve become loyal supporters of the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake. 

So, it was only natural to combine a cause marketing program with the benefit going to one of their favorite charities.  Jana reached out to Michelle Anderson at Triple N Ranch Winery in Trinidad and proposed a Charity Bingo event with proceeds benefitting the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake.  The results were fantastic and everyone came away with something positive. 

Shortly afterwards, Jana and Michelle teamed up for another Bingo charity event benefitting the Food Pantry in Tool, Texas.  Both Lakeside Mercantile and Triple N Ranch Winery were recognized as community contributors for their efforts.  And their brand outreach efforts were also successful.

Jana and Dennis have both been active with the Malakoff Chamber of Commerce.

Partner Marketing

Jana and Dennis have a strong belief in fully standing behind the products sold, often times one of a kind, in their store.  That statement can best be found in their partnership with George Spann, a regionally renowned, Cedar Creek Lake photo-artist and tour guide.  The three have a unique professional bond where George markets his one-of-a-kind masterpieces on many different mediums and Lakeside Mercantile hosts them for sale to the delight of locals and visitors from all over. 

George has acquired an enormous reputation and has a large social media following so the two partners share each other’s strengths to a mutual benefit! This partnership has evolved to where Lakeside Mercantile has become the ‘go-to’ outlet for George to market his nature photography masterpieces and the retail traffic into the store has been one of the main contributors to the success of Lakeside Mercantile!

Little Pink Bag is another unique partnership for Lakeside Mercantile.  Little Pink Bag offers a great selection of the latest fashion accessories that you won’t find anywhere else!  And, they’ve pulled out all the stops to stock the full line of accessory selections available at Lakeside Mercantile at the new location!

Other marketing partnerships have included HF Family Table and Market, VaULT Home Decor, Bookish and Artful Thinking Gallery; all located in the Malakoff business renovation district.

Retail Innovation

Lakeside Mercantile is now offering Festive Kitchen Food-to-Go Serving the Cedar Creek Lake Community!

Looking for fresh, no-prep snacks, hors d’oeuvres or light meals? Lakeside Mercantile is partnering with Festive Kitchen from Dallas.  Festive Kitchen is a one-of-a-kind company offering 100% made-from-scratch, premium dishes developed over years of catering the best and biggest events, prepared in their fully licensed Dallas kitchen.

They’re known as your one-stop shop for “easy gourmet,” And, now, you can choose from a wide selection of fresh items offered in the Lakeside Mercantile store.  Easy pick-up and go straight to your lake house table for family and guests!  What could be easier?

As mentioned at the beginning of this LakeLeader article, Jana and Dennis celebrate their one year anniversary in July 2021. Since they’ve moved to a new location (just a couple doors down), they’re celebrating with a Re-Grand Opening on Friday July 16 from 6:00 to 8:00 at 112 East Mitcham Street Malakoff, Texas and the public is invited.

To learn more about Lakeside Mercantile, click link below:   https://cedarcreeklake.online/listing/shopping/malakoff/lakeside-mercantile/