Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign...

But none of them are anywhere near as cool as the new ones at Salvage Chic!

A young couple came in to the shop a month or so ago, when I had first started the Shop Expansion and the guy casually mentioned that if I was in need of any signs to give him a call. My first thought was "Yeah right, like I can afford a SIGN after paying for all of THIS!" Soon after though, I realized my old Hole-in-the-Wall "Antiques, Collectibles, Good Furniture" sign that Yard Sale Buddy purloined from God Knows Where was just not going to cut it as signage for the expanded storefront - the lightbox sign from the long-gone "Painter's Dream" pottery studio was still up and people were beginning to think that was the name of my business! (well, I DO sell a lot of painted furniture...) And I remembered this guy and how I liked that he just discreetly gave me his business card without being like "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED? BETTER SIGNS. I'M SURPRISED YOU'RE STILL IN BUSINESS WITH THIS CRAPPY SIGN YOU HAVE. I MAKE SIGNS, AND IF YOU BUY ONE FROM ME, YOUR BUSINESS WILL REALLY TAKE OFF." So I got in touch with the aforementioned guy, Marc Beaupre of MB Graphics in Abington, and asked for an estimate. Since the lightbox was already in place and I just had to buy a new acrylic front for it, I was also able to splurge on some Vinyl Graphics for the window. Marc came out and took some photos, listened to what I had in mind, and almost immediately produced proofs that were EVEN BETTER than what I had in mind! Once I gave him the green light, he had the vinyl on the window the very next day and the acrylic sign was delivered the day after.

Word of mouth (Good or Bad!) is HUGE for Small Businesses so I just thought I'd take a minute to say, if you or anyone you know is in need of quality, professional, affordable signage WITHOUT a high-pressure Sales Pitch, contact Marc at www.mbgraphics.biz... and tell him Salvage Chick sent you!

The Stockings Were Hung by the Chimney With Care

in hopes that many Salvage Chic Fans soon would be there - at this past weekend's Holiday Open House/Grand Re-Opening of the expanded store. All week Claudia and I were nestled too snug in the Back Room, among shards of broken ornaments and in need of a broom. With Me painting furniture and Her with her glue gun, we said "We are So Creative... isn't this Fun?" When suddenly on the floor another ornament did shatter, then "OW - Sh*t I burned myself, THAT'S what's the matter!"

OK, maybe it's time to stop this poem before it gets ugly. Plus I'm too tired to rhyme. Just wanted to send a heartfelt Thanks to all the folks who visited the Open House this weekend. Including the past week spent transforming the shop into a Winter Wonderland, it's been about 6 weeks since I took over the empty 1500 square foot space adjacent to the old shop and many, many hours of planning, buildout, spackling, painting, shopping for inventory and decorating. Every minute was worth it for all the people who came this weekend and exclaimed that the new space is "Even Better" than the old shop. For all who took the time to say kind words, THANK YOU!

And now, like the author who publishes his first book and has to thank everyone including his first-grade teacher, I have to thank the folks behind the scenes who made it happen: My Neglected Family including My #1 Fan and Husband Kenny, who I think broke down and bought cold cuts to share with the dogs after he ate all of their kibble. Oh! He slapped on 5 gallons of primer and moved the phone line too (sorry Deb's Barber Shop he cut yours in the process); my Partner-in-Crime Claudia for her endless creativity in crafting and scrounging for inventory; my Mom Kath for giving up her Wednesdays off to prime, paint, sew, and listen to me b*tch; Tammy and Chris Field of Fieldstone Gardens (Union St Hanson, less than 1/2 mile from Salvage Chic!)- Tammy volunteered to paint and Chris makes an excellent cocktail; Marc Beaupre of MB Graphics in Abington for the excellent signage; Claudia's Husband Brian who helped Kenny hang the sign (and deemed it "A PISSER SIGN!"); Yard Sale Buddy for fixing the Fix-It Shop sign and building the little ramp between shops so people don't trip; Mack from Never Open Antiques for tripping and making me realize I needed this ramp!

I'm sure there are a few I forgot, blame it on exhaustion. And if you made it to reading this far, Thank YOU for your being a fan of the shop & blog, it is folks like you who keep me going.

Now back to the regularly-scheduled Blog.