SAVANNAH, Ga. () – The Savannah Downtown Business Association hosted its inaugural RetailFest, which gave a chance for shoppers to learn about local businesses on Wednesday.

Small business owners in in downtown Savannah said the slowdown hits twice a year right after the holidays and again after the fourth of July. Recently, they said it has taken more than just having a storefront to keep customers coming in.

“We are all just hustling,” Morgan Hammock, owner of the Morgan Rae Boutique said.

For some owners, the event sparked new partnerships as it is a networking event.

“Within the first five minutes, another local organization came up to us and wanted to collaborate,” Lori Fountain, with Sea Love Candle Bar and Boutique said. “Events like this absolutely help small businesses in the Savannah area thrive.”

Many told that they are leaning on community events and social media to fill in the gaps during slower months.

“The slowing down of business has definitely made us get a little more creative,” Fountain said. “We’ve done our first give-back day and have two more coming in September.”

Hammock said, “we go live every Tuesday at 6:00 on our app our slowest day and it drives sales.”

Business owners said creativity is what keeps the doors open. They are focused on staying visible until the holiday rush. Many of those entrepreneurs served as panelist at Wednesday’s event, a lot of them were dealing with the same struggles.

“I think it’s just the foot traffic,” Melissa Monge, co-owner of Sea Love Candle Bar and Boutique said. “That’s our biggest challenge.”

Hammock said, “I hear people on the panel that are having the same struggles as I do when it comes to keeping up with social, when it comes to creating,  things to bring people downtown and drive that traffic. But I feel supported in rooms like this.”