Retirement Sale Starts Today

January 22, 2014

25 years ago I came to this village and fulfilled a dream of mine. I had always wanted to have a store and so Whimsies Incognito came to be.

It’s been a beautiful trip—full of a filmstrip of memories.

Three locations, a handful of loyal steadfast employees who I consider family and who I know loved Whimsies as much as I did. Family and friends were all part of this retail journey, and steadfast people who held my hands along the way as the years marched on.

Whimsies survived because all these people believed and supported me. They are my extended family.

I’ve been privy to a connection to people—watched families expand, grow up, move away, suffer losses, and celebrate joys… a connection to the cycle of life.

I always talk about this circle in my business in my relationship with the artists: their creativity, my ability to make the circle continue through the sales of their art, and this art coming to be in homes as it is “gifted.”

I have been blessed to be able to prosper over these years and do something that I love—which is the most important thing in life. Whimsies was always the shop around the corner. Greetings and smiles were exchanged as people stopped by. Retail has always been for me about connecting with people.

Unfortunately, the landscape of retail has changed dramatically over the quarter century I’ve been in business. Years ago, the norm in the retail business was company representatives coming to the store, and showing us their products in person. We got to take a tactile look at the beautiful things that would eventually make it to our shelves. This personalized level of service has gone to the wayside in favor of paper catalogs and shopping online. Even trade shows have lost their momentum, as costs of wholesale exhibiting has steadily risen while attendance has dropped off.

The personal side of retail has been modified and redirected. Computers allow people to shop 24/7 at the click of a button, making it at times hard to compete as a brick and mortar store. For every customer that takes a look around the shop and enjoys the mix of products, at least 1/3 (maybe more) will ask if you have an online store. Be it at that moment they don’t have a need for that piece of pottery … or can’t make up their mind… or dollars are scarce. They want to shop as their schedule allows (so a late-night computer date is perfect!).

In case you haven’t been watching enough predictable television to catch the drift of where this blog post is going…

Whimsies is closing its doors after 25 years of business! Thank you for being part of the adventure. Now it is time for me to go after another “brass ring” and see where the next passion leads me.

-Jackie

Fall Angelrox and Hope Clips Fashion Trunk Show

The seasons are changing rapidly, and fall is upon us. Time for layering clothes, with style! Join us on Saturday, October 12th from 2 to 6pm for what promises to be another great afternoon with Angelrox clothing! An expert from Angelrox will be on hand to show off these versatile clothes, including their signature piece The Wrap. Is it a dress? Is it a shawl? Is it a skirt? Yes to all! There will also be other garments available for purchase that are normally not sold in our store, such as their lovely tops; you'll definitely want to check these limited garments out!

The details, by the numbers:

What: Angelrox Fashion Trunk Show
When: Saturday, October 12th, from 2–6pm
Where: Whimsies Incognito
             35 S. Broadway
             Tarrytown, NY 10591

For more information or to RSVP, please go to our Facebook event page, or call the store at 914-631-3355. We'd love to see you!

~*~the Whimsies crew~*~
whimsiesincognito.blogspot.com
facebook.com/whimsiesincognito
twitter.com/whimsiesinc

Psychic Saturdays at Whimsies!

This Saturday, June 8th, we will be starting a new series of events here at Whimsies. On select Saturdays, either professional tarot reader Hilary Parry or evidential medium Jake Samoyedny will available for appointments at the store.

Psychic Saturdays at Whimsies Incognito

Dates for Hilary Parry
Saturday, June 8: from 11am to 5pm
First appointment time: 11am
Last appointment time: 4pm
Walk-ins are welcomed subject to availability. Preference will be given to those with appointments. 1/2 hour ($45) to hour-long ($90) time slots available, please feel free to email tarrytowntarot@gmail.com to book your appointment.

Dates for Jake Samoyedny
Every 4th Saturday of the month Jake will be available for walk-in appointments.
First date is Saturday, June 22nd, starting at noon.

About the readers:

Hilary Parry has been reading tarot since 16 years old, ever since she bought a tarot deck for her mother that was not so well received. That little deck started a career in tarot that has spanned 15 years, culminating in the launch of her website, www.tarotbyhilary.com, in 2011. Hilary continues to be the girl next door to her clients, reading tarot with tough love and common sense.









Jake Samoyedny, a Spiritual Medium who lives a life of serving spirit, has trained with some of the leading mediums alive today. He has trained at the prestigious Arthur Findlay College for Psychical Studies in Stansted , England. Jake is a member and a demonstrating medium at The Journey Within Spiritualist Church in Pompton Lakes, NJ. He is a member of The Spiritualist National Union International based in Essex, England. He is a member of The Lily Dale Assembly. Jake will be testing this summer to become a registered medium of Lily Dale, America's oldest Spiritualist Community. He is a working practitioner of Evidential Mediumship which strives to bring proof that we don't die and that life is continuous.


For more information, please call the store at (914) 631-3355.

Spring Has Sprung! Angelrox Fashion Trunk Show

Spring has sprung, and what better way to welcome the warmer weather and the blooming flowers than to have a change in wardrobe? Join us on Friday, April 12th from 5 to 7pm for what promises to be another great evening with Angelrox clothing! An expert from Angelrox will be on hand to show off these versatile clothes, including their signature piece The Wrap. Is it a dress? Is it a shawl? Is it a skirt? Yes to all! There will also be other garments available for purchase that are normally not sold in our store, such as their lovely tops; you'll definitely want to check these limited garments out!

The details, by the numbers:

What: Angelrox Fashion Trunk Show
When: Friday, April 12th, from 5–7pm
Where: Whimsies Incognito
             35 S. Broadway
             Tarrytown, NY 10591

For more information or to RSVP, please go to our Facebook event page, or call the store at 914-631-3355. We'd love to see you!

~*~the Whimsies crew~*~
whimsiesincognito.blogspot.com
facebook.com/whimsiesincognito
twitter.com/whimsiesinc

Spring Sale 2013 Starts Tuesday!

It's that time of the year again!

We're happy to report to you all that it's sale time. Our annual Spring Sale begins on Tuesday, March 12th and runs through Sunday, March 17th. There will be discounts on selected goodies store wide. 

Most of you have taken place in many of these sales over the years so you know what to expect. 

If you're new to the Whimsies scene, let me fill you in. There will be color-coded signs hanging around and color dots on stuff throughout the store. Discounts range from 20% to 50% off the original price and some items will be deeply discounted with a final price marked.

All sale items are sold cash only and free gift wrapping is not available on sale items.

Do you know why we have a spring sale every year? We're making room for spring merchandise, so come help us clear the way for brand-new jewelry, jewelry boxes, accessories, purses, and all the goodies we found during our trips to NYC and Philly at the trade shows.

Have a wonderful day and we'll see you soon,

Your friendly retail therapists at Whimsies Incognito, and the boys.
whimsiesincognito.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/whimsiesincognito/
www.twitter.com/whimsiesinc/

Open House Weekend and Trunk Show!

Join us this weekend for our annual tradition, Open House Weekend! Stop by, peruse our goods and holiday finery, sample some yummy goodies featuring mixes from Rabbit Creek (BLT dip or brownies, perhaps?), and experience our gift wrapping expertise...

... and we're adding something new this year with a trunk show on Saturday, December 1st from 2pm to 6pm featuring Angelrox Clothing and Hope Clips. The lovely Lauren from Angelrox will be on hand to show off the versatile clothing and make you look fabulous!

For a taste of what you can do with the clothes, check out the video.

Want to let us know you're coming to join us this weekend? Stop by our Events page on facebook and RSVP... but it's okay for you to come in and surprise us as well!

Come Join Us for Small Business Saturday!

Small Business Saturday® is November 24th!

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday is another day, one dedicated to the businesses that boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country.

It’s Small Business Saturday, and this year, it’s happening on November 24th. Shop Small this November 24th, and let’s make this the biggest day of the year for small business.

Come visit us and experience personalized customer service, exquisite gift wrapping, and your one-stop shop for all your gift-giving needs!

To learn more, visit ShopSmall.com.

Looking forward to seeing you,
the Whimsies crew

Customer Appreciation Raffle!

From May 20th to the 26th is National Small Business Week, and since we are a small business, we decided to do a little something for the customers that keep us in business. We're having a Customer Appreciation Raffle!

For every $25 you spend in Whimsies, you are entered to win a $100 gift certificate to the store... and you know us, our gift certificates NEVER expire!

Entering the contest is easy: just stop by and shop. The threshold is $25, so if you spend $100, you get 4 chances to win!

The raffle drawing will take place on Sunday, May 27th. You need not be present to win.


See you soon!
~*~the Whimsies crew~*~
twitter: @WhimsiesInc
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WhimsiesIncognito

Spring Sale!

It must be spring if you see this sign...

Our Spring Sale kicked off this weekend, and will continue until Sunday, March 25th. Why do we have this sale at this time every year? To make room for the goodies that are coming in!

Every year at the end of January, we attend the NY International Gift Fair at the Javits Center. It's a big show but we only find a few things there. Just a small portion of the show fits in at Whimsies because of our high standards (i.e. We're picky!). In order to find our usual unique, handmade, original, and often up-cycled goodies we drive to Philadelphia for the Buyers Market of American Craft (in February). Philadelphia is a fun city to visit anyway but to wander aisles of handmade goodness and picking the best for you is a real joy. We visit old friends and meet new crafters and artists that we hope you'll like too.

So, help us empty our shelves of the sale items so we have room to unpack the boxes of merchandise we have coming in... new pottery, new jewelry, new stuffed animals, glassware, sushi sets, and more! Stuff that made us say, "Wow, I've never seen anything like this before!"

See you soon,
the Whimsies crew

Find us on facebook: facebook.com/whimsiesincognito/
Twitter: @whimsiesinc

Summer breezes by

Here we are, most of the way through August. This year is just flying by. As autumn approaches we really shift gears around here. Having a shop next door to Sleepy Hollow means that we get lots of requests for Headless Horseman stuff. There are a few things around the area, but we never found anything that really impressed us. Either it was too simple or too cutesy for our taste. We wanted something local folks would like as well as visitors. This is the first thing in a while we have liked. These prints are hand silk-screened on matte card stock, signed and numbered, and limited to 120 pieces. They measure 14'' by 22'' and costs $22 dollars. We sell them unframed so you can personalize them as you see fit. If you want it framed locally Heritage Frames on Main Street here in Tarrytown is offering a 20% discount on the framing you pick for this print. We encourage you to come by soon. The expectation is that we will be sold out by Halloween. If they are as popular as we expect we will look into having T-shirts done next. Come by and have a look. We would love to hear what you think!

Springtime and New Jewelry

The daffodils are blooming, the birds are singing, and the new jewelry orders are coming in the door. As we shed our coats and sweaters, there is a little more skin to show off. Back in February we went to our favorite trade show and ordered some amazing handmade sparkle for you to wear.

  Being in business for 22 years has given us the opportunity to work with so many artists. Over the years some have come and gone, others have left and come back. And because we are always on the prowl for something new we are finding goodies in all kinds of places.

As the trees leaf out and the weather gets warmer I'm sure all of you will come out of hibernation and we'll see you around town. There are lots of new gifts coming in over the season. By Mother's Day (May 8th) we will be flush with pretty things.

Afternoon Tea to Celebrate Coming of Spring!

"There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea."—Henry James

We are offering a Whimsies version of "High Tea" on Saturday, March 19th and Sunday, March 20th. Our sessions will be from 2–4 in the afternoon; a brief history followed by a three-course service of savories/scones/pastries paired with a variety of teas. Our high tea will also offer a bone china teacup with the price of admission. I have been collecting for over 30 years . . . Our own resident Brit will lead us on this cultural journey.

Where: Whimsies Incognito/Junior League Building, 2nd Floor

When: Saturday, March 19 2–4pm & Sunday, March 20 2–4pm

Price: $35 per person

Please RSVP by phone (914-631-3355) or e-mail (whimsiesincognito@gmail.com). We can't wait to see you!

Queen of Everything

Whimsies may not be the queen of everything, but we try. This weekend we are going to our FAVORITE wholesale show. It's called The Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia. On this shopping trip we get to meet artists who just do small-run work. These are the people who you only can find in a small shop, not a big box retailer. (Not to toot our own horn or anything) Beautiful glass, pottery, jewelry, wall art, and weavings just to mention a few of the goodies we get to shop for. We have many artists that have been with us for years but we are always in the market for new ones. There is nothing like seeing new work in person. Catalogs will never do them justice. While we are busy shopping, the store will be closed on Sunday, February 20th. Hope you don't miss us too much but we will make sure you see all the new goodies when you come back in.
Have a great weekend!

Valentine's Day 2011!

Whimsies WILL be open this Monday, February 14th, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in honor of Valentine's Day!

To help our last-minute Valentine's Day shoppers, here is a brief summary of all the suggestions for V-Day Gifts featured on our facebook page. Don't know about our facebook page? Click here to like us on facebook!

♥ Stained glass hearts by Summer Glass
♥ Multimedia wall art by Papaya!
♥ Cookbooks (all sorts): featured—My Sweet Mexico by Fany Gerson
♥ Bath and body (all sorts): featured—Chakra Foot and Bath Salts
♥ Sterling and cord heart necklace by Everyday Artifact
♥ Tactile Poetry by Leafcutter Designs
♥ Birdcage plate by Lollipop Pottery

Stop by and see us soon... we're full of helpful suggestions if you're stumped!

Holiday Open House

It's that time of the year again. Time for our annual Holiday Open House! Boxes and boxes of beautiful goodies from our artists have been unpacked and the giant roll of holiday gift wrap is at the ready. The party is this Saturday and Sunday with a preview on Friday night on 3rd Friday. Refreshments will be served while you shop and check off those gifts from your holiday list. It is a perfect way to ease into the holidays.

Another way to celebrate the season is to give to a good charity. Have you ever wished all your gifts could be wrapped by Whimsies? Well, here is your chance. To help us raise money for a group that has touched our hearts, Guiding Eyes for the Blind, we are wrapping to raise money. Come with your gifts Sunday, December 5th and 12th from 1pm to 4pm or Thursday, December 9th from 6pm to 9pm. Prices will vary depending on the size of the item and while you wait you can visit with a few of the trainees. Don't make us beg! Help us raise funds for these amazing dogs.

October Third Friday

Third Friday has crept up on us yet again...

This Friday, October 15th, we will be offering our 10% discount on everything in the store... but wait, there's more!

If you come in costume, you will get an additional 10% off!

Hilary will also be doing tarot readings, so be sure to stop by for some spooky fun.

We have plenty of Halloween gourds in stock, but for who knows how long?

We will be in costume... will YOU?

End of Summer Sale

It happens every year. The time comes for summer to cool into autumn. As the days grow a little shorter, we start to think ahead to the bustle of the holidays. Don't worry — we aren't stringing lights in the front window yet. We just need to make some room for new arrivals. So we're having a sale!

Women's summer accessories: 50% off
Picnic baskets and picnic mats: 30% off
Bottle-cap belts: 50% off
Erin Smith wall art: 30% off
All Blue Q recycled bags: 30% off
... and a few surprises you'll have to come in and see for yourself.

As an added bonus, you can get 20% off any non-sale items in the store if you print out this post or use the phrase "I have a paperless coupon". This sale only lasts until September 19th, so hurry in for the best selection.

Sailing Into Summer

The Hudson River is a huge part of our local identity. From Whimsies, we can see the sailboats drifting up and down the river from spring through fall. It is so relaxing. We are so inspired by them that we wanted to decorate our front window with sailboats. There is a great pattern online that made it easy. Thanks to a little help from our friends we were able to make them using scraps, recycling, and leftovers.

We really had a great time putting them together. We wanted to make all our hard work pay off so we decided to raffle off the boats as a fundraiser for The Neighborhood House in Tarrytown. The Neighborhood House is a wonderful organization that organizes senior programs and activities. They also "encourage meaningful social interactions and connections across ethnic, intergenerational, and economic lines". The tickets are $5 each and the drawing will be held next 3rd Friday on July 16th at our shop (though you don't need to be present for the drawing to win!).

Please stop by to take a look at the boats and pick up a ticket or two. Each winner will get to pick the boat of their choice, first come, first serve. If you're here at drawing time you can take your boat home right away.

The Key to Everything

Skeleton keys are a classic symbol of discovery. The Romans used them as a symbol of Janus, the god of doorways. He kept unwanted energy out of the home. These beautiful key designs from Sparrow are a happy addition to our very particular selection of handmade jewelry. You can get just a key to add to an existing necklace, or add a leather string to hang it from. Lots of words are available to inspire you. The metal used is pewter, with one of two finishes: silver or antique brass. The sizes vary, and you can easily mix words together. This just might be the graduation or Mother's Day gift you're looking for.

Annual Spring Sale!

It's that time again: springtime!

We love spring, and one way we celebrate is to have our Annual Spring Sale. To make room for all the pretty new things we have on order, we need to do a little spring cleaning. Items will be marked with colored dots throughout the store, and each color matches a percentage discount. Sale items will be discounted from 20% to 50% off the original price. A great mix of goodies will be discounted, including winter accessories, pottery, jewelry, glass, and more.

The sale starts on Tuesday, March 16th. By coincidence, this is also our one-year anniversary in the new space! After 20 years on Main Street, we moved to 35 S. Broadway one year ago, and we are loving the new space. There are still a few of you that haven't had a chance to check out the new digs, and now would be the perfect time. Stop in early for the best selection.

Many of you are on our snail-mail list and have gotten a postcard in the last week. If you would like to go paperless, just let us know when you come in or e-mail us at whimsiesincognito[at]gmail[dot]com to update your information. Whether you are on our e-mail or snail-mail list, you will receive an additional discount on a sale item, so sign up now! For up-to-the-minute info on our shenanigans you can become a fan of Whimsies on Facebook.

Please remember that we require either cash or check for purchase of sale items. Our free and fabulous gift wrap is available only for regularly priced items. A small fee is charged for gift-wrapping sale items.

Always nice to see you!