Christmas morning at our home

During breakfast on Christmas morning Nancy and John enjoyed the warm feeling of knowing many presents were being unwrapped at that time in many locations across the country that were being given by our store customers. It was like we were part of many Christmas celebrations on that morning.

The last minute urgent concern

We received this urgent message via E-mail this morning. Can you relate to it?

I was wondering if you could tell me what type of packaging you would have used to send the Julian bracelet, box or envelope?  My husband was keeping it in his incredibly disorganized office until Christmas and has lost it.

In-store shopper comments

The Saturday before Christmas in our store we had many visitors and shoppers. It was as if many of them usually limited their shopping to online retailers and the malls. We received several comments throughout the day remarking about the wide range and depth of merchandise in our store. We also received several comments reflecting their unexpected appreciation for the ambiance of the store.

The comments expressed reminded me of the difference in shopping local, independent stores compared with the multinational and franchised stores that are so prevalent.

Shop small, shop local

Last year we moved our store’s accounts from a multi-national, huge, corporate bank to our local Seattle Bank with a branch just a few blocks away.

Today the Seattle Bank branch manager and assistant manger visited our store. They greeted Nancy and me by name and gave us a gift-wrapped box of chocolates in appreciation of our business.

Not only do they know us and care for us and our business, we are actually earning interest on our savings account whereas the former Big bank seemed to always have fees that ate up the small “earned” interest.

It makes a difference where you decide to spend your money.

The anxiety rises

As we come closer to Christmas the remarks become more, eh, “interesting.”

Today:

1. The first thing that the priest said on the phone was, “Help! The Altar Guild is on my back!"
2. A person phoned and inquired about a book title, and the shipping, and the time for delivery to their residence. Then, spoken rather quickly, “Can I call you back in a bit? I’m in the doctor’s waiting room and they are about to call me.”

Warms my heart one week before Christmas

From friend Michelle,

The boy is home and snug in his bed with visions of Seattle dancing in his head, and some weird film concepts, and what he forgot to pack, and who he wants to see... yup, he's his momma's boy. But he's home safe and I fell asleep to sounds of chatter and giggling from the brothers reunited. All is calm, all is bright.