pugdog
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Jul 31, 2007, 11:29 AM
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It's time to move on -- Please Read
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I will be updating this, please consider this a pre-notice of what is coming.
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This is not well thought out, but I wanted to get the notice up as soon as
possible, since it seems to take 3-4 weeks before people get motivated!
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Those of you who have been in the shop over the past 5-6 years know the story pretty well. Recently, another major change happened, and it has made some of what we've been putting up with pointless.
Over the years, we've used the shop as a second home. It was a second home for us, and our kids, and a place for our kids to meet their friends. It was a way to keep an eye on them, and know what was going on. We often had 3-4 neighborhood kids in the shop as well. That secondary purpose made putting up with a lot of the other annoyances worthwhile. With the changes, it's no longer a second home, so business issues are all that are important. And those are the issues that have been a burr under the saddle.
Over the years we've suffered with landlord/tenant issues, from the garbage and blocking of our entrance way, to inadequate lighting, inability to get to the water hose to clean up the food/piss/beer left on our steps from the "patrons" of the other tenant and the pizza stores. The landlord has been happy to take our money, but we have not gotten new carpeting, new lighting, or any of the other needed repairs. It took YEARS to get the roof from leaking, costing us huge amounts of time, loss, and loss of use of space we were paying for -- not a single discount, give-back, or even apology. We remodeled and wallpapered, and did all the work out of our pocket, with no give backs.
We needed new lighting outside for safety, so they installed lights we can't change!! We need a 20 foot ladder, or more!
The last straw was after I painted over graffiti, which the landlord has not bothered to clean up, my front door, glass door, was painted.
I can't explain the feeling of walking up my steps and seeing that.
It was a hate crime, a crime of violence. The neighborhood seems content to put up with this, and to allow this sort of behavior to erode it. The landlord doesn't care at all.
So, the time has come to move on. Those of you who thought we didn't notice, or care -- we did. We just balanced the convenience of having this so close to home, and as a meeting spot for our kids, against the disrepair of the building.
I know I said I was not closing, but that has become an option. I don't want to, but I have to sell out of all the beads, and "stuff" in the shop now, to make moving a reality.
I'm looking for new space in another area, but regardless, I do NOT want to move and pack up what is in the store. I physically can't. I *NEED* to sell it off, then move. So, I'm selling out EVERYTHING (including most fixtures - display cases, etc) and will offer wholesale prices to everyone. If I find a new space, I will buy new cases and fixtures. If I don't find a space, I may outfit a truck, and do flea markets, parking lots, fairs, and such. Maybe trunk shows every few months.
At this time, much of our business has become special orders, and custom orders for larger customers. I will continue that, at least for now. Leave me a note, I'll order it, and meet you for pickup.
With the Internet, email, and such, most of our customers can find us, and the deals we have. We can still order for you, and arrange pickups. The people who lose are the local community, and Squirrel Hill which loses one more business, and a place for people to de-stress.
For the past 6 months we've been offering discounts from Firemountain Gems catalog, and that has been increasing. If you don't believe what we can do, you haven't been in. We've converted a lot of people, and with our weekly (or more often) orders, we can save you money, and get you EXACTLY what you need. This is particularly great for findings, special items, and such, glass and crystals. Gemstones you still really need to put your hands on, and that's why we have such a HUGE inventory. You need to see, feel, touch it. But, sometimes you need a 3 strand clasp, and don't want to pay the single-item price + $5 + $2.75 shipping. We can offer the 2-3rd level price, and NO shipping costs! Huge savings!
So, what's in this for you?
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First, to get the additional discounts, which are WHOLESALE, minimum purchases must be $50 after the discounts. Small purchase/retail will still get 10-25% off on $20 or above purchases.
Wholesale customers (those with a tax ID and who spend $200+ at a time) will get first shot at most of the merchandise -- Including my selects in the "back". Some of you know what those are! Discounts are 30% and up to 50-60% depending on the items. Over the next month, more items will be moved out to the clearance areas. But *DON'T* wait! You know most of our stuff is unique, one of a kind. If there are items you've wanted, get in EARLY... make an offer. Join with friends, make a large purchase, and take the discounts. TOTAL purchase matters. It doesn't matter if 1 person or 10 are in on the order.
All the origami, quilling, and tools and odds and ends must go. All the craft items that are unrelated to beading must go. If I open up again, it will be a _bead_ store, with some metaphysical, and maybe some origami, but none of the other eclectia.
Our figures, carvings, and such will all be sold off. Starting at 20% off, and going, going, until gone. Best selection is *now* as always. And, you know our prices were ALWAYS the best in town, so this just makes them better!
What I'm *NOT* selling off are the collectibles, the higher end rocks/minerals/beads and stuff in the cases. I'll be open to offers, but much of that stuff is unique, and will stay with me -- unless the right price is offered. I'd even consider legitimate offers on what's in the museum case.
All the beads, all the loose beads, all the findings, and "junk" that has collected over the years is going.
I will be making bead collections at marked discounts, for people who want assortments, but don't want to poke through it all on their own. Our collections have been popular, and easy to pick. For the past few weeks I've been repackaging bulk items into smaller quantities, and making easy-to-select packages of findings, beads, and such. The idea was people want to pick their beads, match colors and sizes, but the findings and spacers and such are much easier to deal with pre-packaged for QUICK selection.
The lower end beads -- chips, rounds, B grade or below, $12-16 strands are going to be deeply discounted to wholesale. The pearls will be as much as 40% off, which makes most strands about $8 or less. Buy 20 strands or more, and take 50% off.
The seedbeads (I announced the sale a month ago) are just starting to sell off. It seems to take awhile before people come in. But, we have about $10,000 in seed beads, retail that needs to go as well. We have grades from the really irregular chinese, to delicas. most are Miyuki. I still have a HUGE amount of bulk and packaged beads to go. I also have many under $0.99 which are great for kids parties, or larger projects.
The pressed glass czech beads in the boxes along the wall, I'll be willing to sell at up to 50% off. Purchase at least $50 of them, and you'll get a 50% discount (that means $100+ of marked prices). I don't care if you take the whole box, or one of every bead.
There is close to $100,000 in bead inventory that needs to go. (In addition to the inventory that doesn't really need to go).
As I make room from selling off the beads, I will bring out the rocks and slabs and offer many of the higher grade materials. I have many rare items, biggs jasper, plume agates, woods, and bone. I don't want to have to carry this stuff, so it will all be offered at a discount reflecting the costs of packing, moving, and unavoidable loss in the process.
I have a lot of gold filled and silver wire and findings that need to go. We have stocked odd pieces, and unusual items, but they are just taking space. We have tubes, spacers, twists, and such. I will mark them all at Firemountains 2-3rd level pricing for similar items. Many of them came from direct importers.
The Bali silver needs to go. I have a new order on the way, but I also have a stock of odds and ends of the silver. If you want it, and buy over 100 grams, I will offer a $1.35 per gram price. At 200 grams, I will offer a $1.15 price. You can pick what you need, parts, pieces, no minimum. Otherwise, the silver is $1.45 - 1.55 per gram -- which is still lower than almost anyone else in retail.
This is a PRE-NOTICE of what is to come.
Many things (the silver plate, costume findings, and such) are already marked down. Spend $50 (after discounts) and save another 10-20% over marked prices.
BRING THIS WITH YOU!!! Consider it a "coupon".
Remember, don't wait! We've already have had some disappointed customers who didn't purchase the gemstones when they saw it, and their next visit they were all gone.
As a final note, I don't want to close. But I can't stay in this location. So, if I can sell out the shop, and not have to move more than a few things, I can open up in different locations around town, bringing the beads to you, and maybe even opening up smaller shops, or carts in malls, or who knows!
I like the beads and rocks. I had hoped to be here another 15 years.... It's with great sadness I have to say, I just can't stay in a neighborhood in decline.
The graffiti on the door was the last straw. Please don't read anything more into it.
I won't make more announcements until I have the printed fliers/info sheets done, so people understand what is going on, and what to expect.
Thanks for the good times, and hopefully, we'll see you in the next place.
Robert S. Pataki, MD
PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
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