Proper attire required for Berlin PJ Party
If you happen to drive through downtown Berlin early on Saturday, Jan. 28, and you see a crowd of women on the sidewalks wearing bright flannel jammies and fuzzy bunny slippers, their hair piled high in fat, pink curlers, it’s not because you need a stronger cup of coffee.
Karen Lamp, owner of the Country Craft Cupboard, has come to know many of her customers quite well, but she never dreamed she’d see hundreds of them wandering through her store in nightgowns and robes. That is, until one customer told her about a fabric shop in another state offering a crazy way for shoppers to save big in midwinter.
“We’d typically done an inventory reduction sale in January,” said Lamp. “And this sounded like a fun idea.”
So in 1996, Lamp posted fliers advertising a sale on the last Saturday of January, in the wee hours before the shop opened, to save 40 percent on just about everything in stock.
The catch? Shoppers were required to be properly attired--in their pajamas.
“That first year, we had a great turnout from advertising in the shop,” said Lamp. “The next year, we had a really big sale, and we kept going with it.”
Lamp said lots of ladies travel from out of town, leaving their homes at three or four in the morning or staying with local women they’ve met in years past. When morning comes, they put on their pj’s, head to the shop, and wait as early as 5:15 a.m. for the doors to open from 6-9 a.m.
“We serve coffee out there, because they’re usually freezing,” said Lamp, who has never had to cancel due to weather. “Unless there’s a terrible blizzard or ice storm, it’s on,” she said.
To ensure that the hundreds of folks follow the rules of proper attire, Lamp positions bouncers at her doors. While they’ve never had to turn anyone away, they’ve issued some pretty stern warnings.
“You have to wear pajamas or you can’t come in,” said Lamp. “We’ve had to tell people that sweatpants aren’t pajamas.”
For those who can’t bring themselves to don their nighties in public, the shop opens again from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the deal’s not as sweet--the discount is only 20 percent off then.
Laura Coblentz, a retired East Holmes teacher from Fryburg, has been participating in the sale for years.
“What first drew me was getting 40 percent off. Plus, it sounded like so much fun,” said Coblentz. “I’m not a morning person, but I could get up early to experience that.”
Coblentz enjoys rug-hooking, so she appreciates deals for the somewhat expensive craft. But it’s not just the savings that draws her year after year in her nightgown and robe.
“They also ask for items to donate to a very good cause,” said Coblentz. “I’m on the board for Friends and Neighbors of Every Woman’s House (EWH) of Holmes County, so I was happy to see they chose that for this year’s project.”
Lamp said that giving to charity is a big part of the event. This year, EWH needs disposable diapers and new winter clothing for women and children. In return for the donation, Lamp offers a 25 percent off coupon for a return shopping spree.
Also, a portion of the day’s sales go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of a long-time Country Craft Cupboard employee whose daughter lives with C.F.
“It’s a way we can give back to the community,” said Lamp.
Shannon Stutzman of Holmes County has been helping with the pajama day sale for the past five years. She said women buying fabric in their pajamas is like nothing you’ve ever seen.
“They’re just having fun,” she said with a laugh.
Stutzman said Karen Lamp is an amazing employer who cares deeply about her workers, her customers, and her community.
“When we get there, she gives us the lowdown for the morning, and then we pray beforehand,” said Stutzman. “We pray for the customers and the sale, and after the doors close, she treats us to a wonderful breakfast.”
In the last few years, the fun has caught on, with more Berlin merchants opening their doors to pajama-clad women.
“Now that other shops are doing it, you see people in their pajamas all day,” said Lamp’s sister, Marge Gerber. “It’s the only time it’s acceptable to walk around town in your nightclothes.”
Visit Country Craft Cupboard at http://www.countrycraftcupboard.com or call 330-893-3163 for more details.
Karen Lamp, owner of the Country Craft Cupboard, has come to know many of her customers quite well, but she never dreamed she’d see hundreds of them wandering through her store in nightgowns and robes. That is, until one customer told her about a fabric shop in another state offering a crazy way for shoppers to save big in midwinter.
“We’d typically done an inventory reduction sale in January,” said Lamp. “And this sounded like a fun idea.”
So in 1996, Lamp posted fliers advertising a sale on the last Saturday of January, in the wee hours before the shop opened, to save 40 percent on just about everything in stock.
The catch? Shoppers were required to be properly attired--in their pajamas.
“That first year, we had a great turnout from advertising in the shop,” said Lamp. “The next year, we had a really big sale, and we kept going with it.”
Lamp said lots of ladies travel from out of town, leaving their homes at three or four in the morning or staying with local women they’ve met in years past. When morning comes, they put on their pj’s, head to the shop, and wait as early as 5:15 a.m. for the doors to open from 6-9 a.m.
“We serve coffee out there, because they’re usually freezing,” said Lamp, who has never had to cancel due to weather. “Unless there’s a terrible blizzard or ice storm, it’s on,” she said.
To ensure that the hundreds of folks follow the rules of proper attire, Lamp positions bouncers at her doors. While they’ve never had to turn anyone away, they’ve issued some pretty stern warnings.
“You have to wear pajamas or you can’t come in,” said Lamp. “We’ve had to tell people that sweatpants aren’t pajamas.”
For those who can’t bring themselves to don their nighties in public, the shop opens again from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the deal’s not as sweet--the discount is only 20 percent off then.
Laura Coblentz, a retired East Holmes teacher from Fryburg, has been participating in the sale for years.
“What first drew me was getting 40 percent off. Plus, it sounded like so much fun,” said Coblentz. “I’m not a morning person, but I could get up early to experience that.”
Coblentz enjoys rug-hooking, so she appreciates deals for the somewhat expensive craft. But it’s not just the savings that draws her year after year in her nightgown and robe.
“They also ask for items to donate to a very good cause,” said Coblentz. “I’m on the board for Friends and Neighbors of Every Woman’s House (EWH) of Holmes County, so I was happy to see they chose that for this year’s project.”
Lamp said that giving to charity is a big part of the event. This year, EWH needs disposable diapers and new winter clothing for women and children. In return for the donation, Lamp offers a 25 percent off coupon for a return shopping spree.
Also, a portion of the day’s sales go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of a long-time Country Craft Cupboard employee whose daughter lives with C.F.
“It’s a way we can give back to the community,” said Lamp.
Shannon Stutzman of Holmes County has been helping with the pajama day sale for the past five years. She said women buying fabric in their pajamas is like nothing you’ve ever seen.
“They’re just having fun,” she said with a laugh.
Stutzman said Karen Lamp is an amazing employer who cares deeply about her workers, her customers, and her community.
“When we get there, she gives us the lowdown for the morning, and then we pray beforehand,” said Stutzman. “We pray for the customers and the sale, and after the doors close, she treats us to a wonderful breakfast.”
In the last few years, the fun has caught on, with more Berlin merchants opening their doors to pajama-clad women.
“Now that other shops are doing it, you see people in their pajamas all day,” said Lamp’s sister, Marge Gerber. “It’s the only time it’s acceptable to walk around town in your nightclothes.”
Visit Country Craft Cupboard at http://www.countrycraftcupboard.com or call 330-893-3163 for more details.
Published: January 20, 2012
