What’s happening during this pandemic?

Store-Front Closed during Covid-19.

Imagine our amazement when schools closed on March 17 (our daughters 15th birthday) and soon to follow was a stay-at-home order from the governor.  We closed the store and gave ourselves a few weeks to watch what was to progress.  I wasn’t idle during this time, I talked and met virtually with a lot of small women-owned businesses in Wisconsin and across the country.

Due to the current orders, we are able to offer virtual shopping but not actually safely open the store -OR- accept consignment.  Those orders have been extended until May 26.  Although some restrictions are to be loosened, it doesn’t look like we will be able to open the store-front to the public while also keeping our family safe.

ONLINE SHOPPING: We are doing our best every week to photograph what is in the store and post it on Facebook for local sales.  Curb-side pick-up and local delivery available.  Please consider shopping or sharing those albums with locals looking for items as kids grow (or needing new books/puzzles/games for this LONG time at home).  Currently I have books, toys, baby gear, cloth diapers, bedding and local hand-made gifts – – up in 15 albums.  I will start on clothing and shoes this week.  I’ve been doing some face-time shopping appointments, so some clothing and shoes are selling with the items I’ve already photographed.  Boy would it be nice to have rather empty racks!  I’m certain you are all de-cluttering your kids items and are waiting for us to be able to take them again!  I am not offering shipping at this time, there are a variety of reasons why.

NOT ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENT:  We are NOT taking consignment at this time.  It pains us as much as it does you to not be able to pull new items into the store.  I could really use sandals, swimwear, shorts, girls size 6 month and step into reading books!  However, we just aren’t able to do so right now.  I will alert you when that changes.  I’ve set up a table in our garage to bag/sort items for donation or consignment and I suggest you do the same if you are able.  I’m making sure everything is freshly washed and then sealing it after dried into large clean bags or boxes.  Toys, I’m cleaning and boxing up in clean containers.  I will most likely ask you to schedule a day/time with us once we do take consignment again so we are not overrun with consignment all at once.

Care Act/PPP:  To put it bluntly, we aren’t actually eligible, plus the initial round of funds are already gone. We are just way to small and I really don’t want a loan.  We could use assistance to pay the rent and utilities, but for those programs to be forgivable 75% has to be paid toward payroll, we don’t have much payroll.  Luckily, I have always kept our overhead small.  We are ok for now, but I worry about paying the rent to our landlord on June 1.  This is different for every small business, so keep those things in mind as you order from amazon, target, walmart and other big retailers instead of small local stores or some of us may not be here when this is all over.  The same goes for many small restaurants, local farmers – – when you buy from all of us, we generally do the same and it supports our local economy.

May Surprise/Epic Sale?  So, I’m challenging myself to get the store photographed by the end of April and into albums on Facebook. If I can do that, we will have an epic ONLINE 50% sale on ALL consignment for at least a week in May.  My goal will to be sell $875 in May to cover the rent, phone, utilities and consignors for June. Hopefully, that would also clear racks for when we reopen. Can you help us do that?
Wash you hands, hug your kids and keep safe.