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| What is that sound? It’s the sound of prices dropping and shoppers rejoicing, and it’s music to Janet Jordan’s ears. Janet is the owner of Real Deals Home Décor, which is a unique shop specializing in warehouse pricing. After 30 years in the insurance business, Janet says she felt ready for a change and that she wanted to do something totally different. This desire for “something different” led her to take the plunge a year ago in April 2009. That is when she joined the Real Deals team. She opened her location at 2772 Janitell Road here in Colorado Springs. Regarding the location Janet says, “This area is starting to come to life,” and is perfect for her type of business. Being in the southern end of Colorado Springs also means that she can attract customers from Pueblo, Canon City, and even Rocky Ford, she says. Real Deals is actually a franchise with about 65 locations throughout the nation. Each store sells contemporary and traditional styles of furniture and home décor items with customer-friendly prices, Janet explains. Items for sale include tables, clocks, picture frames, lamps, signs, candles, wall art, and accessories galore for the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and more. The real zinger about Real Deals is not the prices, according to Janet. It’s the fact that the store is only open two days a week. Its motto is: “Two days a week, too good to be true.” This business plan permits a lot of flexibility for the owner, not to mention less overhead expense. Janet, a military import to the Springs, has resided in Colorado for almost her entire life. After visiting a number of Real Deals locations, she became intrigued. She opened her store on June 11, 2009, and all Janet can say is “I’m thrilled with it!” She goes on to say that she loves incorporating themes into her store as she displays the products. Each area in the store has its own category (e.g., kitchen, black/white, inspirational, lodge, Americana, western, etc.). “There’s pretty much something for everybody regardless of your style,” she says. Janet doesn’t just spend her time organizing. She has a full schedule of responsibilities that include ordering, pricing, planning special events, and advertising. Advertising is definitely one area that requires a lot of her time, she says. “With us being new, we basically started with zero customers and so we’re trying to build a customer base.” Janet hopes her business style will draw in customers. “What we’re after is exceptional customer service…it’s not your usual walk-into-a-chain-store type of customer service. It has become more of a family interaction between owner and customers.” Janet says that her customers often come into her business and tell her family stories about their kids and about happy events going on in their lives. It’s like two old friends chatting, she comments. Janet also often has ladies who come in with pictures of their kitchen or a blank wall in their house and say, “Help me with decorating.” I can see why people feel comfortable coming in and shopping at Real Deals. In a cozy nook in the store, Janet puts out various refreshments and snacks including coffee, lemonade, cookies, candy, and other goodies. Janet’s business philosophy is, “It needs to be a relaxing shopping experience.” Besides Janet, there are three other employees. Keeping with the “family feeling” business plan, those employees consist of her stepdaughter, her niece, and a friend who she jokingly admits to bringing out of retirement for the job. Even her husband pitches in. With any business, especially a small business, challenges exist. They are not necessarily bad, but they always require that little bit of extra work. Marketing comes up again and again as a priority to Janet. “As a new store, I’m constantly hearing, ‘I didn’t even know you were here.’” Real Deals’ philosophy is simple, and Janet says that is what brings customers in. She states that she can beat big box retail stores’ prices on home interior items. Too often, she says, people think a store like hers is going to be more expensive, but “Anyone can afford something from here,” she states. Real Deals is more than just a shelf with an accessory or two on it. Janet shares, “We only get a small amount of something in…so each item is sort of a one-of-a-kind purchase.” Janet also holds various special and after-hours events in her store. Clubs meet there to play games and have parties. Once a month, she holds an open house event where certain things are marked down even further and door prizes are offered. She also just held her first sidewalk sale. While prepping for the sale, Janet says she had fun going through the store picking item after item off the shelf and marking them down 30, 40, and 50% off. Real Deals also held a birthday celebration event last month. The event allowed customers to take an additional 20% off already marked-down décor items, and they received cupcake-shaped bath fizzies for free. The store donated 10% of the proceeds that day to TryTeam Pink, a local cancer organization. Free chair massages have been offered at past events, and customers received free packs of pansies at the beginning of spring. Sandra C., a loyal Real Deals customer, comments, “What a great place to shop! There are always new items coming in at great prices. The decor is so varied that anyone can find something to fit his or her style or find a gift for a friend. The staff is another reason I love to shop there; they make you feel welcome. I can’t wait until next Saturday when I can go and see what new treasures I might find.” An upcoming big event for the store is being sponsored by Design for Hope, benefitting CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for children. The graduating class of interior designers from Pikes Peak Community College has been given a white 10’x10’ room in The Shops at Briargate that they must decorate. Some of those students have come into Janet’s shop to buy décor items for the project. After completion of the decorating, a gala event will take place and items in the room will be auctioned off. Real Deals is located at 2772 Janitell Road in Colorado Springs. The hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit www.realdeals.net or call 719-527-2649 for more information. |
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