01 Jan News from Experienced Goods: January 2024
by Jennie Reichman
If only I had decided to have granola instead of cheesy toast for breakfast that morning in early December. While attempting to slice a wedge of Trader Joe’s Italian cheese with black pepper crust, my (very sharp) chef’s knife slipped and lopped off about a quarter inch of my left pinky finger. There was a lot of blood. It’s very disconcerting to see a part of one’s body on the cutting board, but I picked up the chunk, stuck it back in place and, with my partner’s help, bandaged it up and went to the ER. Four hours later I was home again with a heavily bandaged finger and the realization that I would not be able to play guitar for several weeks, something I usually do every day to stay in musical shape for upcoming gigs. It all happened so fast, a split second’s slip resulting in a significant, if temporary, life change.
In the days and weeks that have followed, the word that best describes my inner and outer processes is “pivot.” Showering with a plastic bag over my hand. Depending on my partner to do the dishes. Doing everything with my pinkie extended, as if I were a proper lady drinking a cup of tea. Singing without guitar accompaniment to keep my voice in good form. Making batch after batch of the English toffee I give as holiday gifts more or less one-handed.
Pivoting usually means changing course and improvising when something unexpected happens. At Experienced Goods, we pivot a lot, partly because we are often surprised by an interesting or noteworthy donation we want to highlight on the sales floor. A beautiful designer dress with the tags still attached or a fine piece of art, a mint-condition piece of antique furniture, an unusual musical instrument. We have been known to rearrange entire sections of the store to create a display for something exciting and eye-catching. Or sometimes a section of the sales floor will just feel stale. For instance, the pocketbooks and totes occupied the same two free standing racks in the same corner for almost a year. It wasn’t a particularly functional arrangement, and one day Eric and Karen decided to rethink that section of the floor and moved them to a more accessible spot. And wouldn’t you know it, we started to sell more pocketbooks! With so many creative, innovative minds working at the shop, the pivots go from idea to reality very quickly, especially because all of us are willing to jump in and do the physical work it takes to manifest the vision.
We also are good at pivoting when we have an unplanned staff shortage. Illness happens, family emergencies happen, vacation times and days off collide. It’s rare, but occasionally we will be down to 3 or 4 staff members, which means we pivot to share the responsibilities of whoever is not at work as well as keeping up with our own tasks. Most of us are cross trained in a few different departments, including taking in donations and working at the front desk. And as always, we are so grateful for the many volunteers who willingly step in when the work piles up and help is needed.
2023 was a banner year for Experienced Goods, and as we open the door to 2024, we extend a heartfelt thank you to our wonderful donors, customers, volunteers and all who support our shop and Brattleboro Area Hospice. The coming year will be one of growth and continued success, probably a few pivots, and an ever deepening and ongoing understanding that we are a vital part of the Brattleboro community.