Trainees, coaches, and customers are all saying “We need more space!”
Indeed we do! After 7-plus years at our current Girl AGain location, we have outgrown the 750-square-foot store on Martine Avenue. So we called our broker who found another great opportunity in downtown White Plains that met our criteria. Things happened very fast. I just signed the lease for 1600 square feet at 10 Church Street, across from the City Center in White Plains. After some construction work, we hope to move in July.
We’ll have more than double the space for our program and store – yay! … but that means double the rent! We need your help so we can grow!
Why do we need more space?
Clink here: Donate now to help us grow!
Yes She Can was started in Marjorie’s and Isabelle’s family room in November 2013. A few months later we moved to a 125-square-foot closet inside a children’s hair salon in a strip mall in Hartsdale, NY. That was a tight space where we tested our program and store concepts. When we had two trainees and a coach working, and a customer walked in, one of us had to walk out of the store!
Nine months later we had a proof-of-concept and moved to Martine Avenue in White Plains, NY. This 750-square-foot space was on the ground floor of a condominium building. It came with free parking! The supportive landlord was very generous and gave us breaks on our rent over the years. Our program grew, our donated merchandise exploded, and our customers came from across the country to shop in the store, by phone, and online. And we held workshops for AG doll fans.
During the height of the pandemic, our training program operated virtually. While the store was closed for 3 months, customers ordered online and by phone. And home-bound doll owners packed up their collections and sent them to us.
When the training program resumed in store, we found ourselves falling over each other. The phone rang and someone tripped over boxes to answer it. Customers bumped into each other as they combed through doll outfits and accessories. We no longer had space to host customer workshops. And trainees could not use the Cozy Corner to “chillax” (an Izzie expression) after a challenging moment, since it was filled with boxes of merchandise.
Great opportunities
At 10 Church Street, we will have 1600 square feet – more than double our current space. We will be able to have more trainees and coaches working together at the same time. We will be able to add programs and social activities for our clients. We will be able to partner with other nonprofits that serve young adults with disabilities. And we will be able to offer more activities for our Girl AGain customers to generate more revenue to support our programs.
But we will also need to spend more on the rent and utilities.
Fill the Gap
Our rent and utilities for the remainder of 2022 will be almost $9000 more than we budgeted for 2022!
So we are asking for your support to help us fill the budget gap for this year so we don’t go into the red.
****Just click DONATE NOW and you will see the options to help us relocate and grow. THANK YOU!! ****
Wish List
We also have a list of items we would like for the new space. We would love your help in acquiring any of the following. Perhaps you would like to purchase something on our list. OR – If you happen to have a source that is willing to donate any of these items please let us know.
Check our Wish List on Ikea and our Wish List on Amazon for things like
- Cozy Corner chairs
- Shelves
- Work tables and a desk
Call us if you can help with these items or have a contact that can provide
- Room divider – Screenflex
- Carpet
- Acoustic wall panels for sound absorption
- Mini washer (for doll clothes)
PARTY!
We will be having an open house as soon as the hair salon fixtures are removed! Send Claudia an email so we can add you to our invitation list.
Leave a Reply