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By PATTY ELWELL
“Life is a gift worth celebrating” is the motto and working theme for Party Gallery owners and employees at 963 N. Main Street in Bluffton.
According to owners Gwen Stucky, Natalie Gerber and Alyssa Gerber, life is a list of important stages in people’s lives to be celebrated, like a baby’s first birthday, college or high school graduation, a wedding or an anniversary.
The sisters purchased the business from Jo Donaghy in September 2007 and opened it as their own in October 2007.
Since that time they have opened up a back room on the south side part of the store and made it into a “Solids Room” to display their inventory of solid colored party items such as plates, table clothes, napkins and more.
On the north side of the store they have taken out dividers and rearranged balloon items in the “Balloon Room.”
When they purchased the business from Donaghy they wanted to continue her degree of excellent service to her customers. They continue to offer balloon items and all the party accessories as before, however, they don’t offer fresh or silk floral arrangements.
A new service being offered is ordering online invitations, especially wedding invitations on the Web site: www.yourinvitationplace.com/pgallery. Anyone can go online and order their invitations and have them delivered to the Party Gallery for pickup. The website is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Other items they hope to have in place to sell by Christmas are cake decorations.
Not only have they expanded their selection of party items and added an online service for their customers, but they believe they have achieved a great sense of teamwork in the business.
The sisters each have their specialities. Alyssa, who has a degree in marketing, takes care of the accounting details; Natalie, who has a degree in interior design, has a big part in the designs of the balloon items and Gwen takes care of inventory and ordering. They all do their part and help with customer service.
They also have the experience of 10-year employee Brenda Schrier who has been there for the new owners in during the transition. “This is like a new job,” stated Schrier. “All the personalities clicked.”
In addition to Schrier, Jennifer Jenkins has come on board as a part time employee. She is a Norwell High School senior.
She began working for the sisters within the ICE school program. On her list of accomplishments has been helping with the design for Norwell High School 2008 Junior-Senior Prom.