Blogs and newsletters were sporadic at best and mostly non-existent this past year and like most of you my year was exhausting but as vaccination rates climb and because of our customers incredible loyalty I feel more inspired and I am going to try and write more blogs and newsletters. I am much more comfortable talking but since the podcast is no longer, chatting about new items and silly antics will have to be in written form now.
First of all, I have to thank the staff at FG, everyone worked hard to keep us in business this past year, the store staff had to deal with cranky anti maskers and customers disappointed that their favorite item was out of stock (more on that later) The office staff worked hard to cover shifts, find new suppliers, deliver merchandise, social media updates, maintain websites, keep the stores stocked and so much more.
Second of course I must thank our customers, without you we wouldn’t still be here but as soon as we could open you shopped local, were generally understanding about the pandemic shopping rules and were patient as we worked to get your favorite items in. I got to meet even more wonderful folks as we added delivery to our online shopping and even got a couple of cash tips, as I delivered FG items all over the Twin Cities, I even got one order from Edina to Hastings from order to drop off in 47 minutes! The timing was just right, it was the end of the day, I saw the order, of course had no plans, and the items were in the warehouse, no traffic as folks were still working from home. Usually, we can get stuff to you that day during the week, it takes longer on the weekends as we don’t have anyone at the office checking, we need days off too!
Right before I started writing this an email come through saying there was now a pallet surcharge of $10.00 per pallet due to lumber shortages, shipping costs have tripled too, the supply chain bottle necks that affect cars, computers, and other goods also affect sexual health products. Some items have simply not been available or are taking months to get in. The buying staff are working hard to get in things at the best possible prices for you, if you see an item in the store and are interested now is the time to get it because we don’t know when we will get more in.
Even after almost 41 years folks are still amazed that we have 8 locations, now the signs are different I would have to win the lottery to afford to re-sign all 8 locations! I think being at home the past year got folks in different travel patterns and they stayed closer to home and then started noticing what was nearby. I will always have fond memories of the phone call that cam to the office a few weeks after the Burnsville store opened and the woman on the line responded with Yay! Now I’ll never have to cross the river again! After I confirmed the existence of the Burnsville store. Our stores in the order they were opened, St Louis Park, St. Paul, Fridley, Bloomington, Burnsville, Crystal, Coon Rapids and Lakeville.
I came across this recently in some reading I had been doing and also on a podcast and there is another acronym which even in this business is newer to me so I thought I would share here,
LGBTQIA – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual and/or Ally. I got that from this site.
https://outrightinternational.org/content/acronyms-explained