January 27, 2018
► Long-time customers, Tom and Beth M., sent us this email a couple weeks ago, “I have been negligent and not informed you sooner, but we will be missing Tod’s singing, well perhaps that is not accurate … we have moved to Washington State. Thanks for all the help you and your staff have given us over the years. We literally could not have owned a swimming pool without your help.”
► Advertising, Specials, and Sales all change Sunday January 28: Relax at Home. February’s color is purple.
► Happy One Year Anniversary and thank you to Sean, on Tuesday January 30th.
► Happy Birthday to Maggie and Robin on Sunday the 28th, Thomas on Monday the 29th, Paul on Tuesday the 30th, and Connie on Friday February 2nd!
► February 10: Happy February Birthday to Connie and Elaine. Help us celebrate with FREE birthday cake in the coffee shop, while it lasts.
February 14: Happy Valentine’s Day!
February 19: Presidents’ Day. We are open our normal store hours.
March 1: New store hours begin: Monday – Wednesday 10-6, Thursday and Friday 10-8, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-5
► We have a couple of very high honors to report for our Patio Furniture Department:
1. Gloster Teak is very impressed with our purchases from them; particularly the increases in the past three years. In response, they have dropped some local dealers in order to give us more exclusivity. Next, they are going to share the construction costs to build a Gloster Gallery in our store; I believe only their third in the world!
Vendor galleries in stores are an accepted way of dramatically increasing sales in that store. This is a big honor for us and it will make it much easier for you to make very large sales. Even having a gallery here improves our image with customers who are not even in the market for teak.
2. We joined the International Casual Furnishing Association last year – the national trade association for patio furniture – so Ann and Mia have only been to a couple of meetings. You may remember that the president of the organization came to visit our store last fall, after meeting Ann and Mia. At the national meeting last week, Mia was appointed to their Retail Council (they also have a Manufacturer Council and a Representative’s Council), another big honor for us!
► So to the Gloster Gallery construction: a section of the of the store is getting a stained concrete floor, new molding, new lighting, new wall colors, some very high-style wall panels, and some very expensive hanging plants, imported from Belgium, plus the Gloster logo. Large sections of slat wall are being removed. The two piece cue department and the cue-trying table are moving to the front of the store. The chaises and chairs now in the way are moving to where the cues were. The Deluxe and Premier packages will squeeze in to one part to make room. The Pocket and Cover samples to go the former Deluxe Package space. And all of that should be finished by February 20th. So get moving!
► It’s flu season. Remember, you are not to come to work when you are contagious, and give your sickness to your coworkers, so stay home. Hopefully you all got your flu vaccine two months ago. If not, get it now. And wash your hands and use sanitizer regularly – particularly if you handle money.
► Laughter The Best Medicine: My ultrasound technician told me about a colleague’s patient. Her doctor had told her she might be having twins, and the young mother-to-be seemed anxious. But at the exam, the technician assured her, “You’re not having twins. There’s only one baby in there.”
The young woman sighed with relief. “Oh, thank God,” she said. “I really don’t think I could have stood being pregnant for 18 months.”