LANDRUM – Businesses in Landrum are working on decorating their storefronts for the annual Love Landrum campaign due to start in February.

The campaign, which store owners use as a way to promote the city and why they love Landrum, will run from February 1 until the end of the month.

According to Todd Cox, owner of Sissy’s Boutique, the Love Landrum campaign is sponsored by the Landrum Area Business Association (LABA) and asks businesses to put red decorations on their storefronts for the month of February.

“There’s a contest on Instagram where people can post photos of what they love about Landrum with the hashtag #lovelandrum,” Cox said. “These photos can be with family members, their pets, their gardens, whatever they love about the city and the winner will get a gift basket created by merchants here in Landrum.”

Cox said he has volunteered Sissy’s Boutique, located at 210 E. Rutherford St. in downtown Landrum, to be the drop-off location for the items merchants wish to contribute to the basket. He added Mayor Robert Briggs and Landrum City Administrator Rich Caplan would decide the winner at the end of the contest.

Magan Etheridge, president of the LABA, said while the Love Landrum campaign happens during the month of February, there is something for everyone to love about the city year round.

“The Love Landrum campaign is a month long campaign to show our love for our beautiful city and the community, but the love for Landrum is year round,” Etheridge said. “All you have to do is visit Landrum once and you will find something to love from our beautiful shops and restaurants to our amazing scenery. There really is something for everyone in Landrum.”

Tommy Perry is the owner of Perry Ltd. in downtown Landrum and said the store plans to get as many items locally made in Landrum, like towels, soaps and lotions, to sell during February. He said he loves Landrum because of the “camaraderie” felt between the people in the city.

“This is a very proactive city, as opposed to where we were at one time, and we like to keep Landrum busy and everyone seems to be happy for the most part,” Perry said. “People will come in and say they heard about us on the radio or through the newspaper and that’s not just for us, but the city as well.”

Florist Deb Ponder at Expressions Unlimited said she decorates the store with hearts for Valentine’s Day and said the Love Landrum campaign happens at the same time as the holiday.

“We decorate the store anyways to promote love, because with Valentine’s Day you have to being a flower shop,” Ponder explained. “The Love Landrum campaign coincides with Valentine’s Day, so it’s something we’ve fallen into accidentally.”