As New England as Chowda

     The art of braiding rugs started in New England two centuries ago, and is still going strong. During a recent event at our Weymouth store, customers came from as far away as New Hampshire to browse through our selection.
     Braided rugs had a very utilitarian beginning: they were made to keep homes warm during the cold New England winters. The colorful braids had nothing to do with decorating sense - our frugal ancestors made them from strips of worn out clothing. When one color or pattern of cloth was used up, they would just start with another color or pattern. That's where the traditional striped look comes from.
     Sooner or later, the crafter's creativity came through and they developed their own styles. Now that these rugs are made by machine, there is no end to the colors, patterns, shapes and sizes to choose from. They are no longer just for warmth, but also to decorate your home in timeless style.

We're not the boss of you!

Rick, our merchandising guy, asked us to make a sign for our curtain event telling customers that our "Naptime Window Panels" are not just for babies. Apparently, these curtains have a label with a picture of a baby and they are marketed as room darkening and noise reducing so that baby can get a good night's sleep. Rick felt that customers wouldn't realize that they could use these curtains for other rooms besides baby's.

Our first reaction was that we would just be stating the obvious - our creative customers would not have to be told how to use these curtains! Why, when we ran the contest below (Defending our Borders), we got dozens of responses; most of them were practical and some were downright decorator-y.

Who are we to tell our customers that you don't have to be a baby to use these curtains and get some shut eye? It's not like the curtains have little lambs or twinkly stars on them - they come in solid, adult colors.

But then on second thought, we decided to make the signs. Companies spend millions of dollars on package design and they must know something that we don't... people can't always see beyond the obvious.

Our stores are such a treasure hunt that most of our customers know that they have to use their imagination in order to get a bargain. We've sold rugs with sample stickers (that don't come off), broom sticks without the brooms on them, burlap coffee bags with no coffee in them... and our customers seem to find a use for them.

But if you can't think of anything, take a look at our signs.... we'll be happy to give you a few ideas.

Hi-Tech from Silicone* Valley

I'm not much of a cook (that groan you hear is my family's stomachs...) but when I do attempt to put together a meal, I usually get half of it stuck to the pan. And even worse is the cleanup.

That's why these silicone pans have caught my attention. Our housewares merchant, Bob, came into advertising with them, and everyone was impressed with the bendy, twisty, rubbery pans. How could they possibly work?

Bob says they're the greatest invention since the thermos bottle (you know the old joke: "Keeps hot things hot and cold things cold... how do it know?") This technological marvel can be twisted and crushed, is microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe, it's so non-stick that the food pops out, and it's FDA approved!

I haven't tried them yet (that means I'd have to cook something....)  but if you have, could you tell me how they worked out for you?

*Please don't write to tell me that it's Silicon Valley, not Silicone.... I was making a (very weak) joke....

Defending our Borders

   We have sold items of all description (and some beyond description) here at Building #19, such as airplane escape slides, prison uniforms and wet t-shirts. That's the nature of this business: we buy good stuff because the deal is irresistible - if you offer customers a true bargain, they'll buy it.

    The other day, Nick, our machine woven rug merchant, (the rugs are machine woven, not Nick) came to the advertising department with rug borders. We asked our usual questions, "what are they?", "how much do they cost?" and "what do you do with them?". Nick explained that these are the borders that manufacturers fancy up their area rugs with - they attach them to the edges of a plain sisal or broadloom rug and voila! you have a custom made, decorator quality rug. He told us that the borders are very high quality, he has dozens of different styles and widths, they're 100% wool, and the customer can cut them easily with a utility knife ..... AND they're only $1 per foot!

     The whole deal sounded like a real winner until we asked Nick, "What do you do with them?". The only thing he could come up with was to use them for stair treads. Actually, that's a great idea; you can cut them to the exact width of your stairs.

    However, we at Building #19 can't just stop at the obvious use for them. We want to hear from you, our customers, so we're running a contest. Just drop us a line and tell us the answer to the following question: "If you were the proud owner of some of this rug border, what would you do with it?" Send your answer to advertising@building19.com by Monday, April 16th, and we will randomly pick a winner from the entries and give that winner a $100 Building #19 gift certificate. There is no purchase necessary to win, and you can use the gift certificate towards anything at Building #19.... like a hundred feet of rug border.....

ps: here's a link to the Couristan website to see how rug borders are used:
http://www.couristan.com/Residential-Showroom/Custom-Rug-Program/cms.aspx/Guid/%7B5AC5FD5B-D75C-42D3-B2BF-2BF44285A64E%7D

Tie one on!

     Our ladies clothing and accessories merchant, Jen, made such a great deal on scarves that we were able to sell them for $4.99 and $5.99 in our Saturday, 3/31/12 circular. We had a huge turnout and sold thousands of them, which is not such a big surprise considering the price and the quality of the goods.

     To thank all of our customers who came in and bought one (and many bought 5 or 6 or more...) we are sharing a link to a YouTube video: 25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes!

Enjoy the scarves... and the savings!

A Rug Department Mention

Thanks for the kind mention of our rug department on a very beautiful blog:
http://hazardousdesign.blogspot.com/

Where have we been all this time?

It happens to almost everyone, I'm sure. You start a new project and then it just sort of falls apart. That's what happened with this blog.
We've had a renewed interest in and commitment to social media in the advertising department here at Building 19. We're tweeting and facebooking and redesigning our website, and we'll be blogging, too.
Maybe not every day (or every week), but often enough to keep you informed and entertained.... and hopefully to answer some of the questions you may have about Building 19.

Norwood Book Department by Wendy

The Norwood Book Department is crafted by a woman named Wendy, stop in and say hi to this hardworking, knowledgeable person. She has thoughtfully created an area in this store that welcomes a browser.
Look at the endcaps she has built to entice you, the selection of graphic novels or the browsing room filled with one of a kind books only a bookworm would love and the kids section, WOW!
Thanks, Wendy, you make it fun!
Please, stop by and say hello. Tell her I sent you in! Which B19 is your favorite book department?

Weymouth Wonderful Book Selection

If you have any need for a book this summer, it really would make sense to plan a trip to one of the B19 stores to peruse the shelves before heading off to a big bookstore or to an internet seller.
There truly is a great selection of all kinds of books at great prices.
Today I put out horror, fantasy, New England titles and authors, cookbooks, history, business books, books on politics, biographies, books on soccer, baseball and golf, travel and fiction.
Why not give us a try, save a lot of money and then get the newest best seller without feeling the least bit guilty at spending all that money.
PS great books for Dad here too!

New Bedford Store Young Adult Department

Wow! Today in New Bedford we stocked an outstanding selection of books for teens -
John Green, Sarah Dessen, Alex Horowitz, award winners, whew! Watch out, Louise, they will be flying off the shelves.
What does your teen read? We have the coolest stuff like Baby Mouse for the younger readers, too.
Come in, say hi to Louise and let her know what your summer reading list looks like!

How do you choose a book?

Today I spent time in the Norwood store watching people browse books in the "book reading room" Lori and her team have set up. One woman just plowed through the boxes with kids books in them, tossing books to one side or another. A young man carefully went box by box, scanning titles. He had found a treasure. How do you shop for a book?
I go by the cover. It's usually a trade paper edition, I like the feel of that kind of book and definitely prefer the content whether it's fiction or non-fiction.
What do you like to read and where do you like to browse?

Amazing Christmas Items in Nashua at Building 19

Today I spent time with the staff at Nashua pricing a Christmas stock for sale on Dec 5th. This is the key reason working here is so exciting. We decided on Thursday afternoon to advertise this for this week-end and everyone kicks into high gear and makes it happen. Our longer planned events often don't go as well.
The second thing that's so cool about B19 is that this stuff is really great stuff cheap. As we went through the stock, pricing item after item, the "Wow's" kept coming as we took out another amazing item. We see so much merchandise as Merchants and sales associates, that when we see truly great deals, we recognize it and respond.
So, the prices are more than fair for this level of quality - when you look closely and see the detail, the embellishments, the joy and design put into the front, back and side of every piece, you know you are getting a value. This is the stuff the other guys knock off, from the animated plush snoring Santa to the gorgeous glass ornaments just dripping with style and panache. So much merchandise has become flat and boring for the sake of a price point. Choose things of beauty to savor every day - we can help with the bargains to help you live this way. What do you think?

A Teacher from CT comes to shop at our stores!

I met a cool lady today in the Weymouth store. When we started talking about the Young Adult books, she let me know she is a teacher in CT who regularly makes the trip to Cranston or Weymouth to buy books for her classroom in Leyard, CT. Yes, the eighth graders she teaches love to read and boy, does she know how to hook them into a good book (she lets the kids know that if their parents have a problem with the content, she will understand if they can't read that book :))
She told me we must be swamped with teachers who live around our stores. We do have a lot of customers who are teachers, but sure could use more.
She was also very excited about the YA audio books we have and bought those as well.
It is so rewarding to have conversations like this with our customers either face to face or online.

Eclectic Tastes? Come Browse!

If you like to save a lot of money and like books, Building 19 is a great starting point. Yard sales may have some appeal with paperbacks and used kids books but how about brand new books currently stocked everywhere from the supermarket edited book offering to the big book store chains? And the prices are at least 50% off, more often 70% - 80% off!
There are also resellers' deals, if you sell on Amazon or EBay, you can find money makers on the shelf at any Building 19 store.
Of course as the Merchant in this area, I am prejudiced! There is a book for you, come on in and find it!

Building 19 is 45 years old on July 2 and going strong!

On Thursday, July 2, come celebrate the 45th anniversary of bargain hunting that has been so muc a part of the retail landscape in New England. All 12 stores will celebrate in our unique way - lots of prizes, games and fun for all ages. (Shrewsbury isn't open on Thursday)
Activities will begin at 10 AM with something different planned for each hour, then enjoy cake and a toast at 2 PM.
Building 19 has been part of so many memories over the years, join us for this special day and share your bargain stories with us.

Help! Summer Reading Need Your School's List

Building 19 is committed to having the very best books we can get our hands on for kids and teens.
This is the time of year when the summer reading lists come out. Some kids dreaded them, I always felt such a sense of a new world coming when I looked at that list as a kid. A whole summer to read these books, usually terrific reads. Of course I waited till the last minute, reading other titles. We often went to the library every day and picked out the maximum four books, returning them the next day for four more. Books should always be part of summer fun.
I am trying to buy the books that will be on your student's list or at least books by the authors whose books land on reading lists. If you will email your school's list to me, I will work hard to find those books, no promises that I can find them, but I sure will try.
Send the lists to jschwier@building19.com, thanks!
One year my kids had a "listening" list from the music teacher, that was cool!

Kids do still Read

Lots of folks may tell you kids and teens don't read any more, that's just not the case.
Borders is experiencing a huge sales increase in what's called Young Adult fiction and so is Building 19! You'll see a Mom in with a daughter like I did today in Natick, pointing out titles she would like. Parents come in alone and make selections and teachers come in for books for their classroom.
If you have a child, a niece, nephew, a grandchild, a friend, a student that is between the ages of 8 to 16, make a plan to bring them to one of our stores to take a look but fair warning, there is a terrific, ever changing selection of the some of the best titles and authors in this category at prices starting at $.99. Tell them they can only have 5 books and stand back, they will want 10!
This summer, keep them reading and check out the selection early - reading list titles will be in our stores but they will go fast!
This shouldn't be a sales pitch but I am so passionate about these books, the subject matter is smart, current and engaging. The stuff for boys and girls both is wonderful. I do believe in reading the classics but sometimes the content is so far from these kids' experience that the writing is lost on them. The new books hook them right from the start. Let me know what you think and if your teen is reading. Check out www.teenreads.com!

Facebook

Some people have said that they can't find us on facebook. I don't know how to publish a link, but if you go on facebook and search for jerry ellis and building #19, you'll find us.
we're tweeting (twittering?), too, we're not really sure how that's going to work out, but we're trying to keep our customers updated on what's going on at Building #19.

Teacher's Event

We have a teacher's resource event coming to all stores on Saturday, March 28th. Check our website next week for more info.

Annual Golf Event

The famous Building 19 Golf Event is coming on Saturday, March 28th to our Burlington Store. Burlington opens early at 7:45AM.