Harleysville Mixes Books With Fashion for a Cause

A Harleysville model shows off her ensemble, with Defending Jacob in hand.

Last month, Harleysville Books [1] in Harleysville, Pennsylvania, co-hosted an event that successfully accomplished several things at once. Partnering with Your Best Image [2], a neighboring indie boutique, the bookstore co-hosted a “Ladies Night Fashion Show” that raised funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure [3], an organization dedicated to ending breast cancer. In addition to supporting a good cause, the event simultaneously highlighted the two local businesses and resulted in increased book sales, said Harleysville owner Shelly Plumb.

The two businesses had held similar events separately, but decided to open both doors to host a joint event. After hearing about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day [4], a 60-mile-walk fundraising event that one of the boutique employees was planning to participate in, the business owners decided to donate a portion of the night’s profits to support the 3-Day team.

Customers of both stores — who were also breast cancer patients or survivors — modeled outfits provided by the boutique with books in hand selected by Plumb.

Plumb chosestaff favorites, books related to the store’s upcoming book club programs, and women’s fiction titles that Harleysville often handsells.

The event was $25 per ticket, $10 of which was donated to the 3-Day team. Attendees received a $5 gift card from each store, and the remaining $5 was used for the wine and food served that night. Both owners advertised the event in their stores, and the models invited friends to attend. Tickets were sold in the bookstore and the boutique and via both their websites.

“The women that came out had a great time,” said Plumb. “They supported their friends and had a fun night out for a good cause. It was most definitely successful, and we do hope to do this again.”

Plans are in the works for a similar event in February, and Plumb hopes to raise money for another women-focused organization, such as a local women’s shelter.