Great Stuff: Celebrating One-Year in Business!

Some of the Great Stuff volunteers

A year and a half ago, an old lighting shop sat vacant in the Talleyville Center on Route 202.  Today, an upscale resale boutique, Great Stuff, is decorated with pink stripes and attracts customers who like to “shop for a cause.”  On October 20, 2011, Great Stuff celebrated its one-year anniversary!  The shop, which carries women’s clothing, accessories, and home furnishings, had a very successful first year in business.

Great Stuff store manager, Dale Maahs, says that the shop has exceeded everyone’s expectations.  Dale explains that there were some concerns with the shop, especially with recruiting enough volunteers and donations to keep the shop going strong.  “That has not been a problem,” Dale explains.  “The donations have been rolling in every day and we have a great core of over 30 wonderful volunteers.” 

Dale with a happy customer

Unlike your average consignment shop, Great Stuff thrives solely on donated items and is staffed by Maahs, an assistant manager, and trained volunteers.  “The volunteers are fabulous.  Many were customers first and saw how much fun the volunteers were having and wanted to join them.  Others have a connection to breast cancer and want to give back.”  Dale explains that many survivors on her volunteer staff are able to share their stories with each other and build camaraderie.  A group of volunteers from Great Stuff recently got together and created a team for the Inaugural Race for the Pink Ribbon 5K which benefited DBCC.

Great Stuff volunteers at the Race for the Pink Ribbon

The volunteers help with taking in donations and pricing them, working on the sales floor and helping in the backroom.  “The quality of donations that we get is amazing.  So many are in pristine condition, some with the tags still on, and we get a wide range of brands and designers,” Dale said. “We are so thankful for the support of the community with donations and volunteers.  We even have support from other local retailers for in-kind services and some donated items.”

The shop has been a great fundraising arm for DBCC, but has also provided a great source of outreach to the community.  “The visibility that the shop has given DBCC in the community has been wonderful,” DBCC Executive Director Vicky Cooke said.  “It is a place where survivors can volunteer and talk with other survivors and those newly diagnosed in the community.”  Maahs agrees, “We have such a great family here.  Customers always say ‘Wow!’ when they learn that the proceeds from the shop benefit DBCC.  People come in and thank us all the time and tell us that we are so needed in the community. Customers want to help and be a part of it. They become regular shoppers and donors, and refer their friends to the shop.”

Visit Great Stuff's website or check out their Facebook and Twitter pages!

Read this article in the Dover Post about the Great Stuff and their anniversary.