I've been fantasizing for the past couple of years now on developing my own charity t-shirts to raise the $2000 needed to walk for the Weekend to End Breast Cancer event.
I had got as far as creating a couple of images, all tidily rendered an' all, and had looked at Bargains Group (home of the $2 t-shirt) to print them for me.
Unfortunately, I didn't have the funds needed to start off this great idea, but I had decided to remain on their mailing list; ya know... just in case.
Turns out that it was a good thing to stay on their list, since they were able to email me on their Friends & Family warehouse sale; running for the next six weekends.
Tonight was the "sneak-peek preview / invitation only" event where we got to purchase some nifty stuff, especially with the winter holiday season coming.
My bro is getting socks for xmas, woot!
They're selling just about everything; from winter coats, pjs and long johns, colouring books, toys, *ed hardy* women's sneakers [insert]Dear Santa...[/insert], gloves, mitts, telescopes, bits of home decor and lots of office trinkets (picked up two floating magnetic pens for a couple of office jocks I know, lol).
What had really impressed us tonight was the staff. The warehouse is fairly small; three employees could cover the entire store easily.
Instead, I think there might have been triple that amount of help. You really couldn't turn at any angle without an employee or two falling within your line of sight.
And usually, I would say this is a bad thing, but for some reason it worked for me in this case (perhaps the exception to prove the rule). It might have been the unanimous care-free attitude and smiling faces that each employee imbued. As there wasn't a sour face in sight, which may or may not have caused me to spend more than I had intended. ;)
Or maybe it was the dove chocolates they "forced" upon us to snack on while we shopped.
It was really evident that these girls (and that one guy) enjoyed their work. It might have been "opening-night euphoria" of their six-weekend stint, but everyone, staff and customers alike were having a good time just gabbing while shopping or stocking.
One thing we weren't too impressed with was the outdoor lighting - which probably has more to do with building management than the stores/offices themselves. The entrance to the warehouse is (as one would guess) at the back of the building. Even at 6PM these days, its pitch dark outside without good lighting, so I was a little bit relieved that the hubby had agreed to come out with me tonight. I wouldn't have felt all that secure walking along the darkened parking lot to the back door.
So if you do decide to go on a Friday evening, bring a friend.
And be sure to bring this flyer/coupon in with you: http://www.bargainsgroup.com/broadcast/2009/flyers2009/retail2009/WareHouseFlyerFinal2.pdf read more
