Small Business Saturday, November 24, 2012...SKIP the MALL & SHOP SMALL

Small businesses are the backbone of this country, most work hard & struggle to survive & they need to be supported by their local communities. American Express is asking millions of people to shop small at their favorite local stores and help fuel the economy. We are hoping that our family & friends will help support all the small businesses here in Staten Island...because like American Express states...

"When we all shop small, it will be huge."

PLEDGE TO SHOP SMALL SMALL ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2012

"SKIP the MALL & SHOP SMALL"

Please visit us at our brick & mortar store:

Town & Country Gifts

1213 Castleton Avenue

Staten Island, NY 10310

Saturday, November 24th from 10:30 until 5:00.

Two years ago, our local cable station, NY1, found our store on the internet...

Here is the link: NY1...Small Business Saturday

& here is the blog post that led them to our store...

The following is a REPOST:

Of course, as the owner of a small business, I am embracing this, It has been a tough go for many of us during this "Great Recession". I am always an optimist & I want to think that all is well, but it has been and it still is a scary situation for many of us. In order to succeed...I must run a lean, mean, operating machine. And, when all is said & done, it will be a matter of ...

"Survival of the Fittest"

The small business owner in me knows that this time of the year is crucial to my survival as a retailer...but the spiritual human being in me knows the true meaning of Christmas. It is a wonderful, magical time of year

"For God so loved the world, that He have His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should no perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

I must put my faith in God that all will be fine & that things are as they should be. So, as the season of Advent begins...I will try to remember that...

JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON

Keeping Christ in Christmas...

Kathleen Sforza

eBay Stores:

Kathleen Rose's Collection

Lorraine's Favorite Finds

Blogs:

Lorraine's Favorite Finds
The Savvy Sisters

Facebook Fan Pages:
Town and Country Gifts
Kathleen Rose's Collection
Lorraine's Favorite Finds

Snapshots of Christmas 2010....

Another Christmas has come & gone...A snapshot of the season at "My Home"...

Gifts under the tree...

My nephew "Louis" loved his present...especially "The Wrapping"

Santa has arrived...OH MY !!!

 City Sidewalks...

Busy Sidewalks...

It's Christmas Time in the City...Department 56

"Christmas in the City"

Here we go a-Caroling...

Byers' Choice Carolers...

Snowmen Shopping...

Homespun Country...

Gingerbread Cookies...

Homemade & Decorated Too !!!

Gingerbread Houses...mmm...

Non-Pareils "My Favorite Candy"

My nephew Stephen...

Liam...busy

Emily & Kayla...

Mark...

Ashley...

And

Last...But...Not Least...

"Jesus"

The Reason for the Season...

Merry Christmas,
Kathleen Sforza

Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
718-447-8237

Websites:
http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)

Blogs:
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/
http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/

Faith & Finances...IN GOD WE TRUST

I would be lying...if I said...that as the owner of a small business...
the economy hasn't had an effect on my business.


It has been & continues to be very difficult to run a small business during this "Great Recession".


With that said...


I am going to share with you a story.


One...that many may not believe.


On the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving, I wrote a blog entry about Small Business Saturday...but I also wrote about the true meaning of Christmas. I hadn't posted the blog, but planned to post it on the Friday after Thanksgiving (the day before Small Business Saturday). The next morning (Wednesday, before Thanksgiving), my first customer of the day told me that she just recently moved back to Staten Island. She told me that for many years, in the late 1980's, she had passed by my store, but never came in. She then purchased a gift for her granddaughter & as she was walking out the door she turned to me & said...

 "Jesus told me to come in this store & purchase a gift".

Okay, it is now 5:00 on the same day (Wednesday) & I am getting ready to close for the evening. A woman comes in to purchase a gift for someone for Thanksgiving. As I was ringing up her purchases, she told me that she hadn't been in my store in a long time & that her mother had recently passed away.  She told me that she was passing by the store and...

Jesus told her to come into the store...that she would feel better.

I was stunned!!! Both my first & my last customer on that Wednesday (the day after I wrote the blog post, but hadn't posted it yet) told me that Jesus had told them to come into my store.

The story does not end there...

It's Friday night after Thanksgiving...I am at my sister Lorraine's house eating leftovers & remember that I have to post the blog about Small Business Saturday & the true meaning of Christmas. The time I post the blog is 10:00 pm. Twelve hours later at 11:00 am the next day (Saturday morning), NY1 (Time Warner Cable's NYC's local cable network) walks in the store to film "Our Store"" for Small Business Saturday. I ask the reporter..."How did you find our store?" Her answer...She found us  through our blog!!!  

All I can say..........

With God there are no coincidences !!!

Believing...
Kathleen Sforza

Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
718-447-8237


Websites:
www.kathleenrosescollection.com (an eBay Store)
www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com (an eBay Store)

Blogs:
www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com
www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com

AMEX...Small Business Saturday, November 27th 2010...

American Express has launched a new initiative this holiday season. They have declared that Saturday, November 27th 2010 will be "Small Business Saturday".

Of course, as the owner of a small business, I am embracing this...It has been a tough go for many of us during this "Great Recession". I am always an optimist & I want to think that all is well, but it has been and it still is a scary situation for many of us. In order to succeed...I must run a lean, mean, operating machine. And when all is said & done, it will be a matter of "Survival of the Fittest". 

The small business owner in me knows that this time of the year is crucial to my survival as a retailer...but the spiritual human being in me knows the true meaning of Christmas. It is a wonderful, magical time of year "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

I must put my faith in God that all will be fine & that things are as they should be. So, as the season of Advent begins...I will try to remember that JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON.
 
Keeping Christ in Christmas...
Kathleen Sforza

Websites:
http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)

Blogs:
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/
http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/