When I was in college, I worked at a Hallmark store. It was more than a basic Hallmark retail chain store. It was also a high-end gift shop. I worked part-time and attended college full-time from the mid-to-late 90s. I was a busy lady back then and that was before kids!
The store opened in 1980 by a husband and wife who combined their talents to build a small town success. It was an establishment that was almost iconic to the strip mall it remained in all of that time.
It’s been about 12 years since I was employed there and I still keep in touch with three special ladies from those retail days.
Yesterday I was sitting in a meeting and received a text from my friend telling me the store is closing. The shop that seemed like it’d be there forever is going to close its doors for good on January 31st. Another mom and pop saying “good-bye” to their neighbors and friends.
I went to see them after work since I still live in the area. The store was empty and picked over from the 50% off sale.
As I looked around, I thought of all I learned working there during those five years.
- Entrepreneurship
- Customer Service
- Responsibility
- Teamwork
I got choked up saying good bye, but I was able to tell them “thank you” for the valuable things they taught me a long time ago.
Good-bye Fiori’s Hallmark…. thank you!
Stephanie Lema 