Sizing up SEWE

There was sunshine, dogs and wooden ducks in abundance for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition wrap-up on Sunday -- and hopefully a few more bucks changing hands.

Whether the event will be the forecasting "groundhog-sees-his-shadow" vehicle for Charleston's upcoming 2010 tourism season, however, remains to be seen.

Merchants, vendors and visitors said this year's SEWE installment was about the same as last year in terms of visitors and dollars. Most everyone held the freak snowstorm responsible for the early attendance funk.

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SEWE 2010

The Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, a facility for caring for injured animals in Florida that emphasizes education, presented a demonstration in Gaillard Auditorium with rescued wildlife as one of the final events on the final day of at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition on Sunday.

"I think Friday hurt us badly," said Elizabeth Bradley, who was in charge of the Department of Natural Resources wildlife shop at Marion Square.

Though Sunday brought attendance "back to par," she said, the novelty of snow in town brought out more visitors from hotels during the weekend and "not so many locals."

Ashley Slane, marketing director for the expo, said it would take a while to tabulate overall ticket and art sales for the event but that the better weather days Saturday and Sunday probably meant a good rebound as foot traffic was able to pickup downtown and elsewhere.

"We're hoping that it would be a solid year," she said.

Interviews from some of the attendees ran the gamut in what dollar amounts they planned to spend while here. Moncks Corner resident Sloane Dills said she and her friends had spent about $100 buying state-produced goods, including wine, raspberry lotion and barbecue sauce.

She wasn't spending much more than in previous year visits, she said, but that what was being offered was "just more interesting."

Others said SEWE's unique offerings was the very reason for coming.

"We wanted to get away from the farm," said Kathy Davis, of Tamassee, near Clemson in the Upstate, who expected to spend about $300 during their brief stay here. Overall, the event is pegged to bring in as much as a $31 million cash infusion from as many as 35,000 people.

Dan Blumenstock, president of the Greater Charleston Hotel & Motel Association, said Friday's snowstorm is probably going to mean a wash-out for many hotel owners for that day, but he added there was also plenty of rebounding recorded by Saturday night.

"We still ended up with a full house Saturday," said Blumenstock, who has three inn properties around town. Flight cancellations in from Atlanta also probably hurt some, he added. "Thank goodness, I guess, we're a drive-in market," Blumenstock said.

Some restaurants continued the cry that they would fend better financially if SEWE were held on a date other than the Valentine's Day weekend, which is already a good cash cow for some.

"That's two weekends of the economy we could get for downtown," said Dru Lowe, manager of Rue de Jean on John Street.

Still, Lowe said his business figures were "pretty much close" to last year.

"It's always good for Charleston, to have people come into town," he added.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postandcourier.com.