Porch. Just the name implies comfort and conviviality.
At Pick Up Sticks, we’re small town girls. Grew up in rural Quay County, New Mexico. We know all about porches and about the importance of community and connectedness that porches provide simply by being a place where one can casually gather and, as our grandmother Ruth might say, sit and visit for a spell. That’s why we’re so excited to introduce our November Retailer of the Month: Porch, in Rockford, Illinois.
Debbie at Porch has always been one of our favorite retailers – she comes to market with news about what’s working in her store, she makes display suggestions, and then she asks us for the same. As her store name implies, she’s all about graciously sharing conversation, comfort and ideas – her positive give and take makes our work much more fun. We encourage this kind of give and take, because it’s a huge advantage for Pick Up Sticks and our other retailers.
When we asked her what comes to mind when she hears the words “Pick Up Sticks”, she said “PROFIT!” We like that answer. And she says she picked Pick Up Sticks over other photo-based jewelry because of its superior quality.
“Pick-Up Sticks is one of the top five lines in our store in volume and profit. Our customers love to build a unique necklace or bracelet for themselves or their friends. We have some offices and salons where everyone has a Pick-Up Sticks necklace. They give them to each other for birthday presents, then keep adding charms. We sell them to teenagers, retirees and as bridal party gifts. Most necklaces we sell include a ball chain, an initial charm and an additional charm. That adds up to $50 retail! We have a lot of repeat customers for Pick Up Sticks.”
Porch is known for having unique lines that no one else in the area carries. Debbie says retailers really need to have a Judy mannequin. “When customers see that loaded with charms, they assume it’s a popular item and want it for themselves. The dollars you invest are directly linked to the dollars you’ll sell. The more the better.” Her Judy lives on a tabletop, sitting on a turntable purchased at Bed, Bath & Beyond, where customers can spend as much time as they want admiring their next charm.
And if you really want to sell the product? “Your sales people must wear it. We let all our girls design their own necklace and then we gave it to them. They wear it in the store, but they also wear it when they’re not working. It’s free advertising and the return on our investment in those necklaces paid off immediately.”
We asked Debbie how Pick Up Sticks Jewelry had changed the atmosphere of Porch. “That display’s the most popular spot in the store!”
Find Debbie and her Pick-Up-Sticks-wearing staff at 3065 North Perryville Rd, Rockford IL 61114, (815-282-8881). Congratulations Debbie, on being our November Retailer of the Month!
Pick Up Sticks Jewelry Company 