30 Jan News From Experienced Goods February 2024
By Jennie Reichman
Remember The Spice Girls? The mid 1990s pop singing group from England? There was Scary Spice, Baby Spice, Ginger Spice, Posh Spice, and of course, Sporty Spice. Although she doesn’t sing or dress in skimpy outfits, our intrepid manager Karen has acquired the nickname Sporty Spice because she’s, well, sporty. Football is her area of expertise, but she can hold her own in a conversation about any sport involving a ball or a puck. Karen frequently makes a point of telling those of us on staff how much she appreciates us and what we bring to the success of Experienced Goods, individually and as a group. Her favorite metaphor for us as a team is the New England Patriots during the glory days of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and their seemingly endless string of Super Bowl wins. “You guys are my dream team!,” she tells us, “Like when Belichick had Brady and Gronk and Edelman, and they were the best, most cohesive team in football.” I’ve never been sure which of us is which player, but I understand the gist of what she’s saying: We work really well together and each of us brings something different to the smooth functioning and creative sparkle of the shop. We’ve been together as a staff for many years and each of us knows what our strengths and weaknesses are. We have each other’s backs, run interference for each other and know all the plays by heart.
Recently, however, we drafted a new team member! Elise Gunzburg is a familiar name and face to many in the Brattleboro area. Whether you know her from her years working at the Guilford Country Store or own one of the cozy crocheted hoods she used to make and sell, or you’ve met her by way of her irresistible dog Chico, you’ve experienced her kindness and openness and have felt immediately embraced as a friend. She has lived here for over 30 years and raised 4 children in Guilford with her husband Elliot. She has extensive knowledge of herbal medicines and remedies and she and Elliot live largely off the grid in a house Elliot built from the ground up. They are both focused on minimizing their impact on the planet and living in close interaction and cooperation with their environment.
Elise, Eliot and their kids have been shopping at Experienced Goods for years, but their dog Chico is the ambassador who brought Elise to our attention. Chico is quite possibly the friendliest, happiest dog in the world, and as Elise says, his favorite place to visit is Experienced Goods. This could be because we all drop whatever we are doing when he arrives and line up to give him pets and belly rubs. He smiles with his whole body, and any interaction with him is guaranteed to improve even the most dismal mood. When Elise asked us if we had any job openings, we happened to be considering hiring someone to work part time at the front desk, and between her stellar work history and Chico’s glowing endorsement, we knew we had found our new co-worker. After less than a month, it feels as if she has been a part of our staff for years. Please say hello to Elise if you are at the shop on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. She will be at the cash register smiling, ringing up purchases and chatting with everyone.
In other news, Valentine’s Day! We have lots of pink, red and white clothes, goofy hearts and flowers gifts, and mushy, sentimental greeting cards to express love, friendship and general appreciation for people in your life. These cheerful colors and images go a long way toward curing the winter blahs; stop by and find something sweet and heartwarming for someone you love, including yourself. And if you are of the sporty spice persuasion, rejoice! Our athletic wear rack is back, packed with clothes for all your sweaty pursuits. Go Team EG!