Georgetown County is taking a step towards improving its exposure to outside communities. The county's Chamber of Commerce plans on hiring a full-time Marketing Director who will be dedicated to promoting the area.
Molly Swilling owns Little Darling's Children's Boutique inside the Hammock Shops of Pawleys Island. She's one of nearly two dozens businesses just off Highway 17 that are hidden from view.
Swilling says now that tourists have headed home, she'd like to see locals check out the unique shops in the area she's grown to love, "This is incredible, this part of the Grand Strand so much less heavy traffic. It's beautiful out here, there's history, architecture out here."
Audubon Shop and Gallery owner Diane Rastello agrees. "Peacefulness, quiet, a lot of history down here, and it's just a calmer relaxing place it's not as busy."
Georgetown County officials are poised to capitalize on those attributes. Council member Jerry Oakley says a full-time Marketing Director is a position they've needed for awhile.
"One of the challenges in doing what we wanted to do was complying with the state statute governing the use of accommodations tax. So we had to be very careful about how it was structured to be sure we complied with the law," explains Oakley.
Hiring an in-house representative will eliminate paying agency fees that reach into the thousands. In the past the Chamber used a company based in Charleston. They came up with the branding "Hammock Coast" which was adopted last year.
"The theory about marketing a destination is that the rising tide floats all boats. So I think to the degree we can bring more visitors to Georgetown County, all the businesses along our visitor area there will benefit," adds Oakley.
Swilling is hopeful others will be just as excited about the area as she is. "If people knew how beautiful it was here, and we started drawing a little bit more crowd with marketing, they would just be so hooked on this area, and that's what we need."
The opening for the Marketing Director will be advertised until October 7.
