If You Give a Mom 80% off and a little Customer Service!

Well, it's Thursday and usually on Thursdays my husband is off and we have date days.  This, of course, can really only happen during the school year since the flowergals are in school and we do not need a babysitter, which are usually on short supply for us.  So our usual date day consists of going to lunch at a nicer place than say "Steak-n-Shake" and then shopping for needed (or wanted) items at locations that are stressful when taking the flowergals. (They are not shoppers unless it is for candy or toys ...)

Today we knew we would have our date luncheon (but I had a few other chores we needed to take care of beforehand).  He knew of a few of these things, but not 1 of them.  

My church's Children's Ministry (CM) is consolidating a few things since we are getting so big especially in K1 and PreK.  Therefore, my CM was looking to get rid of or loan a few things.  So due to my involvement at the church, esp. in CM, I was privy to a few of these items firsthand.  So my sweetie and I loaded up our van with chairs (adult and kid size), puppets, clear containers, etc.  I landed the mother load ... Thank You STC CM especially.  (Just about all of these benefit my new business.)  Also a special shout out Thank You to God for keeping this all in the forefront and helping me find great things!

Then after we loaded down the mini van with above said items, we headed to lunch and also to a local jewelry/craft store to get more bracelet snaps (the place we weren't going to for any special reason other than the snaps ... my sweetie wasn't privy to this knowledge until after the loading of the van).  We decided due to the location of the restaurant we would go to the jewelry/craft store first and then go back to the restaurant.

Walking in we found the snaps and then as we looked around walking to the cash register we spotted the leftovers from their recent garage sale items.  I must add they were all marked 80% OFF.  I am particularly not good at hunting and pecking through small items, too much effort ... but I surveyed the items and began to think ahead of what I could use whatever I saw for at the shop or for future parties.  I found quite a few items and with Allan's help he pecked through the smaller items I detest looking for.

The sales lady asked me if I could use a basket, I said I was fine and then she said, no ... let me put these up here {on the counter by a cash register} for you (I thought great more arm space for more things).  (See I only went in for 1 thing ... I didn't need a basket or cart in the beginning ... silly me!)  So as we looked through the items and Allan then helped me rethink the prices ... most things were way under a $1.00.  So I re-looked and got more great things for crafting projects for parties and other items were things I thought I could use for decorating or making my own things to re-sell.  And I must add all the while the nice lady kept checking back with me to see if my arms were getting full.  So all in all after everything I got I walked out saving almost $200 with a grand total of $100 paid.  How cool is that!

One more note:  I have to say sometimes that chains have nothing on "mom and pop" operations.  There are a few chains I adore, but most ... their customer service STINKS.  This mom and pop operation ... their CS was just grand.  I am making a mental note of that ... seeing I will be a "mom (and sometimes pop) operation" very soon!   Being nice and helpful ... goes a long way in how people view your shop!