From the newly retired owner of Sandy's Stuff!

As many of you know, the store officially closed on Tuesday, December 30th.

What a wild ride it has been - 11 fun-filled years. I have met so many wonderful people as a result of the business. Many of these people will remain friends, several in particular will remain best friends.

Once more, I want to thank all of my customers, consignors, those who donated clothing not wanting any of the profits for themselves and those who helped me grow my business in other ways. I couldn't have done it without them all.

Those who know me well know that I'm a pack rat . . . er, I mean I'm a collector of anything and everything. So I don't consider last Wednesday as my first full day of retirement. Because on Wednesday, Thursday (New Years Day), Friday, and Saturday, my husband and I spent approximately 32 hours each cleaning out the store - throwing stuff away, sorting what I wanted to keep, donating hundreds of items to a non-profit for distribution to shelters (more on that in my next blog), renting a truck and storage facility, transporting items (a HUGE thank you to Scott Lederman and Paul & Angie Pirwitz for their help) into storage, and then a final cleaning of the 3500 sq. feet.

We closed the doors for the last time last night (Saturday, Jan. 3) at 8:00 and for the first time since I announced my retirement in late July, I was overwhelmed with emotion. And it was neither sadness nor elation; it was more like a huge part of my life was coming to an end and I realized it was a turning-point moment.

A very special thing happened on my last day. About 15 minutes before closing for the last time, I looked up and was both surprised and delighted to see good friends approaching the store with a dozen roses and a bottle of champagne. Thanks to Debby, Ellen and Cathy - you're the best!

Newest update

Alas, I have now met with 11 individuals who were interested in buying the store. And after hearing all the details, they were still interested. But I don't think it's going to happen - my timing sucks. Guess I chose a really bad time to try and sell my business. As I've said before, either people can't get a loan or they're not willing or able to leave a secure job and income to take an entrepreneurial risk. And I certainly understand that.

When I chose to do that in 1997, the economy was so much different. I took a chance (leaving a nursing management position) and never regretted that decision for one minute.



So what's up? What I'm calling a "progressive clearance" has started. On November 1st, all clothing and accessories were 20% off and every week, the discount gets bigger. Sales totals have been unbelievable.



I also am selling all of my fixtures and display items. And the interest has been much more than I expected.

So . . . if you have a closet or storage area or garage with room to store clothing, I have racks that are priced low.

Or if you regularly have garage sales, I have racks that are priced low.

Or if you make and sell your own jewelry, I have display items galore.

Or if . . . you get the idea.

Come into the store before it's all gone. I'm retiring at the end of the year.

Bad timing . . . no, really bad timing

What was I thinking? Not to put a damper on it, but it seems my business may not sell (but I'm retiring, anyway). Could I have chosen a worse time? I have sat down and had discussions with nine people who were seriously interested in buying the store. After hearing the details, they were all still interested.

So what happened? (Frankly, I'm shocked that I've only heard back from less than half of them.) The ones who got back to me are unable to follow-through for one of two reasons: either a) they can't get a loan, blaming the economy; or b) they're just not comfortable giving up a "real" job with a known income at this time, again blaming the economy.

What's a woman to do? SELL IT ALL!

I will be fully retired by the end of the year, so my clearance of inventory has begun. If you've shopped my store, you know how reasonable my prices have always been. So hold on to your hat (or your coat, jacket, etc.) and be prepared for even lower prices. And every week from now on, the discounts get bigger. This week, it's 20% off, next week, it's 30%, etc. But of course, the longer you wait, the less of a selection you'll have.

Come in and help this old woman have a happy retirement.

What fur?

Story #1

I have 3 beautiful faux (fake) fur coats right now. They’re visible, but behind the counter so they don’t ‘walk away.’ A couple came in this morning and the guy spotted the coats and spoke with disdain about them, loudly proclaimling,. “I can’t believe anybody would ever wear a fake fur” and then went on and on about how cool real furs were. They had just walked in, so he didn‘t have a clue as to who else may have been in the store (or what they were wearing).

Before they left, he proceeded to ask for a discount on a $10 costume jewelry ring. He didn’t get a discount and didn’t buy the ring. Go figure.

Story #2

Young woman walked into the store about 4:15 this afternoon and started to tell me about the beautiful brand new wedding dress she wanted me to buy or consign. I nicely told her that I don‘t take in wedding dresses. She then looked behind the counter, turned up her nose and said, “But you take furs?” My answer - “Yes, because they sell."

Because she just stood there quizzically looking at me, I said, "Wedding dresses don’t.”

She made a face and left.

Ladies, PLEASE don't buy a wedding dress unless you're sure it's what you want and you understand that 99% of the time, nobody else wants it when you're done with it, whether you've worn it or not. It's the truth.

I just might lose my "wife card!"

I haven't been responsible for the household grocery shopping in years. It all started when I lived in Cleveland from 1985-95 during the week and only came home on (most) weekends. My husband became the grocery shopper, cook, etc. I only had to occasionally grocery shop for myself in Cleveland.

I didn't miss it at all. And even after I moved back to Toledo, I avoided it as much as I could. Fortunately, because my husband would rather eat than breathe, he likes to grocery shop.

For two reasons, I'm going to be grocery shopping again: I am retiring soon and my husband just started a part-time job. I told him that I would take over this task at least one day a week.

I was off both Saturday and Sunday last weekend and he had to work both days (delivering for Bartz-Viviano florists). So I ventured out! What a reality check: first were the prices. He'd been telling me about the rising costs, but seeing it for myself was quite a shock.

And I made a huge mistake - everything looked so good, that I bought way too much - and a lot of it had to be eaten within 24 to 48 hours.

Needless to say, we've eaten very well for the past 2 days.

So, do you have any good grocery store stories?

Age just doesn't matter

There's a new man in my life. But it's okay if you tell my husband. There is a guy that I've gotten to know well over the past year and I'm happy to call him friend.

But the big deal is - I'm old enough to be his grandmother! We even jokingly refer to ourselves as "grandma and grandson."

Only 23 years old, Andrew is such a fine young man that I'd be proud if we were related. I've known his parents for several years, but it was at a BNI conference last year in San Diego where a bunch of us BNI Assistant Directors got to know each other better.

Andrew has had more than one job in the recent past, but now I believe he's found his niche in selling insurance. And since this profession is found in almost all BNI chapters already, he has to start a new one (BNI chapters are "business-exclusive; that is, only one profession per chapter so you're never in the same chapter as your competition). And I'm proud to be the Assistant Director of this new chapter.

Thanks, Andrew (er, grandson), for being my friend. And thanks, Shirleen and Chuck, for sharing your son with me.

Update on previous post

Store isn't sold yet, but I've now met with two other parties who seem to be seriously interested - so every time the phone rings, I'm hoping it's one of them, offering me even more than my asking price! (always a dreamer, Sandy)

I've asked everyone I've met with to let me know if they "drop out of the running." So far only one has.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.