Starting a new business is lots of hard work. It usually takes lots of dreaming in the beginning just to get the inspiration, but like Thomas Edison said, "Genius is 1% inspiration & 99% perspiration." And Pregnancy Resource Center East has found that any success is the same.
For several years, they dreamt of opening a resale shop, not only for income, but to benefit their clients as well. Then it looked like the time was right, so the search started for a good setting and research of all that goes into setting it up.
But no matter how much research you do, no matter how much people advise you, no matter how much experience you might already have, you don't really know all there is to do until you jump in and start doing it.
Trailer after trailer, brought items in to be sold, racks and shelves were put up. Volunteers came to clean, lay carpet, and sort and price. It was an all-out fight against time since the rent had started. You don't want to be paying rent and not be open to sell!
On June 10th, the store was open…. Not the entire store, but the front part, but it was up and running. So much still needed to be done with piles of donations needing to be cleaned, sorted and place on hangers. A wall was being built for our work room and two fitting rooms. The dream was on its way, all while customers came to purchase items. After 3 long months of hard work, the workrooms and shelving and store was set up.
Now, when it comes to pricing, everyone has their opinions, especially when it comes to used items. "We visited other resale shop, researched on-line, asked people, and looked at our neighbor stores. Some customers would say our prices were great! Others would say too high, and still others would say we're too low! "What a dilemma! We wanted to give good prices so people could save money, but at the same time, we'd have to make enough to pay the bills, and we didn't know how the funds were going to go." said Gail Duhon, the Executive Director. "We tried our best, but you know, sometimes you just can't please everyone."
So now, after lots of trial & error, they are willing to start pricing things lower so that the community around them can have even more savings and they have a plan to let the people of the community to help.
Between April 1st and June 1st, if you volunteer for 4 hours in a week, you will be able to make a purchase for 50% off. You will be able to do that each week during those two months. By doing this, the resale shop will be able to get a lot of work done, but at the same time reward the volunteers for their hard work. Can you imagine piling $100 worth of items into your cart and paying only $50?? And the $50 will go to such a good cause! (No, not to you but to Pregnancy Resource Center East.)
Volunteer work would include: sorting, pricing, cleaning, restocking, bagging, and other things.
If you would like to participate and help, call the Pregnancy Resource Center East at 281-427-2273 or The Cookie Jar Resale Shop at 281-838-8116. The resale shop is located at the Bay Plaza Shopping Center next to Family Dollar. 2236 N Alexander, Baytown.
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