Win!

Because I'm Me now offers gift certificates.

Enter here for a chance to win one!

New Projects in the Works

First, a personal project: News

Second, a business project: Because I'm Me

Third, a "for sale" project (and shipping will be waived for local pick-up purchase: Because I'm Me Shop

Tomorrow is It!

Tomorrow is really our last day open.


The kids did the windows. Did I even need to say that?

Have you heard those commercials from Henrick's Jewelers? First they were closing ... huge sales, everything must go, blah, blah. Now ... if we, the consumer, buys enough from them they'll be able to stay open! What an amazing twist of fate. I really really really don't like being misled, especially when it feels pretty dang intentional. Jason and I always joke that those businesses are just like the "going out of business" t-shirt shops on Duval Street in Key West ... that never go out of business.

Oh, anyway, tomorrow is our last day open. I've been asked so many times how I feel about it but I don't have an answer. I haven't let it sink in at all. Wait until next week when we're moving everything out ... that's when it'll hit me and the tears will really fall.



I miss my store being pretty. I do know that. It's so ... generic right now. I miss it having some personality (at least I thought it had good personality!). Hmm ... maybe I'll take that desire for pretty and spring clean my house ... yeah, probably not.

I'll miss getting a bit of a break from the kids. Really.

I know I'll miss all of you, my customers and friends. That's the hardest part, without a doubt. Thinking back over the last nine years ... such wonderful memories.


See me taking the picture? There was an image going around the Internet and e-mail of a dining room set someone was selling. Nice picture, nothing unusual ... until you looked closely at the dining room mirror. The guy taking the picture was naked as the day he was born (see it here, scroll to bottom of page). I'm not naked ... but everytime I take a picture of the store windows and see my reflection I think of that and giggle. edited to add: ok, maybe you can't see me, on my computer I'm cut off the side of the picture ... kind of blows this whole little story, doesn't it?

But the time has come to move forward. The biggest thing, of course, is that I need to be home with the kids ... our family needs me to be home. Jason and I have always had a lot going on between the five kids, home schooling, Ditto Kiddo, his full-time job, sailing, etc. and we're all ready for this change. I will say though that the last time I tried to stay home we opened the store ... I'm not good at not being crazy busy. I am, however, convinced that this is the right move for us and even though we've all (yes, each of the seven of us) brought up new business ideas over the last few weeks I'm not even looking (but the ice cream shop idea did sound really fun!).

My new adventure, Because I'm Me, is taking shape. It's a fun creative outlet and very rewarding. We have another project in the works, still in the early stages, that I'll mention either here or at my other blog in a few weeks that, if all continues to go well, will keep me very occupied ... for a very long time (I so want to spill the beans right now!).

Oh, onto a new subject, don't forget to enter the drawing at my other blog to win a Because I'm Me tote bag!

We do still have many fixtures and hangers left. Call (239-495-1055) or e-mail if you'd like more information. We'll be around quite a bit next week and would be meet at the store with any interested parties.

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and friendship these past nine years.

Jody

Last Days! Save 50% Storewide

This Friday and Saturday
Save 50% Storewide

Our last day is Saturday. This is your last shot at the incredible bargains at Ditto Kiddo.

Open Friday and Saturday 10:00-4:00

A Give-Away

On my other blog, Because I'm Me, I'm doing a give-away drawing 'cause I've written 200 posts there. And, of course, I wanted to give you the opportunity to enter and win. The drawing is to win a Because I'm Me tote bag filled with fabric pieces and willed be mailed to the winner ... so you don't have to be local to win!

Best of luck!

Withdrawal Help

I know what it's like to not get your fix ... the uncomfortable physical or mental changes that happen when the body is deprived of the awesome new and secondhand merchandise that it is accustomed to getting. Here's help:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Store in Naples ... I have no firsthand information about this shop but the girls who own it have been in a few times and are wonderful. It's located in the same plaza as Outback Steakhouse.

Small Wonders in Lehigh Acres ... this store is great. She's been open a few months, has a great selection of merchandise, and runs a really clean well-organized shop.

There is also a Once Upon a Child opening in Springs Plaza in Bonita Springs, near K-Mart where the dollar store used to be.

---
In other news: yes, our website is down. We closed it yesterday because of some fishy activity that made me wonder if someone had broken into our account. The blog will be here for a while, but the links to the website go nowhere (I removed some of the links yesterday, but I hadn't realized how Ditto Kiddo site link happy I actually was!).

Retail Space for Lease

Retail space for lease in Beach Plaza in beautiful Bonita Springs!

800-2000 sq. feet available, currently combined into one unit but will be divided.

Close to the beach, shops, condos, restaurants, and more.

For more information call

Cheryl Maymon

CAM Realty

239-731-7253

or e-mail me with any questions ... I can't answer lease specific questions, those need to go to Cheryl, but I'll be happy to provide whatever information I can.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Or:

Business for Sale (guess what the business is LOL)

All reasonable offers considered!

I can't begin to tell you how many people have told us they wish we weren't leaving or that someone would buy Ditto Kiddo. After 9 years we're quite established in the Bonita Springs/Naples community and have a large loyal customer base.

We'd like to see the business continue and are willing to sell it at a great price to the right person.

E-mail me at jdy2@aol.com or dittokiddo1@aol.com for more information

40%

Beginning tomorrow,
Friday, April 11th

Everything at Ditto Kiddo
will be
40% off

the marked price!!

This is the final markdown for most items.

Bits and Pieces

Save 30% Storewide

At the awesome, spectacular, never-before-seen, once in a lifetime

Ditto Kiddo

Going out of Business Sale!

Current Store Hours:

Wednesday 10:00-4:00

Thursday 10:00-2:00

Friday and Saturday 10:00-4:00

I've had quite a few people asking about the products I make (quilts, onesies, bibs, etc) that we were carrying at the store. Yes, I'm still making them. Yes, they're still available! Before too long I'll be able to list local stores that carry Because I'm Me products but in the meantime check here at etsy.com (if you're local pick-up can be arranged to avoid shipping charges) and check the blog here, or e-mail me for more information. And if you happen to have a store and are interested in carrying the products absolutely positively e-mail me! Thanks.

hello ... hello ... echo ... echo ...

When I was a child my family rented a cottage on the same lakes we now go to every summer. Midway through the chain was a bridge ... I think it was made of metal. It echoed really loudly and, of course, everyone had to hoot and holler as the boat went under the bridge. One summer my grandmother, who was quite ladylike ... a judges wife, taught us to call out "Board of Health" as we passed under the bridge. You must try it sometime.


We've mostly cleaned out the "newer" side of the store, the side we added a few years ago.



It's great. The kids can skateboard, play tag, run really fast, you know, all that really cool stuff I don't want them to do.



And the room echoes. Every time I answer the phone or say "hello" anywhere near there I crack up because it's SO loud, and so echoey, which I seem to forget, often.


We've already tried saying "board of health". The echo isn't quite that good ... but it's pretty good for a store.


So when drop by don't think I'm nuts for giggling. It's not you ... it's just the echo ... echo ... echo ...

Oh, and the fixtures in the photos are for sale, just so ya know.

Store Hours, 30% off Storewide

Our hours for the upcoming week:

Wednesday 10:00-4:00
Thursday 10:00-2:00
Friday and Saturday 10:00-4:00


And, beginning Wednesday, take 30% off the price of everything in the store.

In The News

A really nice article about our store closing ... should be a busy day today!

Ditto Kiddo owners closing for retirement

"It's been nine years and my wife and I decided that we wanted to retire early," said Jason Sanders, who owns the Bonita Beach Road store with his wife Jody. "I think we both want to spend more time at home."

With The Ritz-Carlton's Grill Room demanding more time from Sanders - he's the restaurant's manager - and Jody Sanders devoting a lot of her time toward quilting and attending craft shows the decision to close the store was a tough one.

"Some of our customers are devastated," Sanders said. "Their kids have grown up with us. Our kids have grown up here."

The store, which is devoted to children's clothes and furniture, is expected to close within the next month.

"Our store is half-empty now," Sanders said. "We moved everything to one side."

To help move the remaining inventory in the store, Ditto Kiddo is offering 20 percent off on everything including fixtures and new items, Sanders said.

While the couple plans to spend more time at home, they have no immediate plans to sell the business.

"We've had some interest," Sanders said. "But we've decided to hang on to the name for a few years. We may want to bring it back at a later date."

Update

Just a quick update:

We're thinking our last day open will be Saturday, April 19th. That's not set in stone, by any means, so keep checking the blog.

We have been very busy but started this closing with an extremely full store (intentionally!) so the shopping is still great. We actually still have a crib left, now priced at about $72.

Everything in the store, even NEW merchandise, is 20% off. (fixtures not included)

Hangers, at a whopping 5 cents each, are selling like crazy. Of course, every time we sell a piece of clothing we have another hanger available!

Jason just put out a bunch of DVD's. I'm not sure what, but they are the ones we used in the play area ... so they are popular titles.

Speaking of the play area ... the big gate, with three doorways, is for sale for $99. I'm sure that'll be gone in no time.

We have a lot of fixtures for sale ... standards, brackets, poles, racks, etc.

A Recall

Here's a new recall from Plan toys. Isn't he cute?

There have actually been quite a few recalls lately that I haven't posted about (been a bit busy closing the store). Check them out.

Unbeatable Deals

I posted yesterday that everything in the store is now an additional 20% off. Which makes for some really great deals, really great. I swear, if I didn't own the store I'd be shopping myself.

Here are just a few examples of the savings you'll find on our NEW items!

Bobux shoes regularly $25.99-$26.99, now $20.79-$21.59.

Baby Banz regular price $14.99, now just $11.99.

All Melissa and Doug toys are on sale. The insanely popular easel, a staple for most homes, regularly $49.99, now an unbeatable $39.99! Only 3 left, so hurry in.

Clean Shopper shopping cart seats were $29.99, now just $23.99.

We have one Melissa and Doug puppet theater left, at it's regular price of $119 we sold almost all we had, and this last one at $95.20 will go quickly.

Yes, we can ship. We charge only shipping and packaging costs, if there are any, never a handling fee. If that interests you give us a call at 239-495-1055 or e-mail us at dittokiddo1@aol.com.

Wow!!! Everything is 20-80% Off!!!

Going Out of Business Sale

Beginning Monday, March 17th everything at Ditto Kiddo is 20-80% off.

Hurry in!


Happy Saint Patrick's Day ... remember to wear green or get pinched.

Hangers

I've received a lot of e-mail interest in the hangers we've got for sale. Here they are in all their glory.

They are 5 cents each, available in any quantity (I've got a store full of them!), and can be shipped at buyers expense. The suit hangers will be mix and match, you'll get some of each kind. If you come in to get them you can pull out the ones you want yourself.

Ask if you have any questions at all!



adult hangers


child hangers


child pant hangers


child suit hangers

Most Common Questions so Far

Here are some answers to the questions I've been asked most often this week.

Why are you closing?
To be home with the kids.

When are you closing?
Today? 4:00. Oh, forever ... mid April, I think. We're playing it by ear.

When will things be marked down more and how much?
Again, we're playing it by ear. We'll probably do a second markdown next week sometime, but the item you're hoping to get at a lower price may well be gone by then.

Can I have a bigger discount now?
No.

Why don't you sell the store?
We do have some interest in that and are more than happy to discuss selling the store with anyone interested! We'd love to sell it to the right person. We think this is a great store and would love to see it continue to meet the needs of our customers.

Is the Melissa and Doug really on sale?
Yes.

Any chance you'll reopen elsewhere?
Anything is possible. But for now my focus is going to be on the kids and home schooling.

Are you going to miss the store?
Oh yes. Very much.

Are you still taking credit cards?
Yes.

What's going on with frequent buyer cards?
We're not giving any new ones out but will honor ones that are already in circulation.

Mannequins

I've had so many requests for mannequins - pricing and sizing and such - that I thought I'd go ahead and post everything here.


First, I have soft doll like forms. They are a cream color from head to toe. The dolls are poseable, but don't have wire inside so they are best leaning against something, sitting, or posed just right that they stay put. Each are $25.
update 3/14/08: one remaining
1 are 27" tall and wear about 6-12 months clothing
2 1 are 33" tall and wear 18 month clothing
2 1 are 38" tall and wear 3-4T
2 1 are 44" tall and wear a 5-6


I have 2 one half forms on silver bases. They wear 12-18 month clothes and the height is adjusted at the base. Both of these have poseable arms but the shoulder sockets are broken so the arms hang naturally (they look fine but can't keep their hands above their heads). Each are $30.


I have 4 mannequins from the Gap, the kind they used to use. The four are full bodies and wear about 12 months clothes, but we've managed with 6 months up to 24 months depending on the items. The four do not come with stands but have openings at the backs of their legs to attach to a stand. They have cord at the back of their necks to hang them and have a maple toned disc at the neck opening. Each are $40.

I have two larger mannequins like the Gap kind but about a size 4-6 in clothing. Each are $40. all sold


I have many fabric covered foam forms that hang. They give a nice shape to clothes, looking much better than just a hanger! $10 each.
5 2 size small, approximately 6-18 months
5 2 size medium, approximately 3t-5
3 size large, approximately 6-7

I might have heads for some of the headless mannequins, but they are being sold as if they are headless because I haven't located all the heads yet. If I find them I'll include them!

If you're interested in any of these or have any questions just ask.

Marking Down

Save 10% Storewide!*

*Store fixtures not included ... but they are for sale!

Hangers for Sale

We've started cleaning out the back rooms ... and, oh my, what a project that's going to be!

All hangers are available for sale for 5 cents each ... yes, 20 for just $1. That includes the good ones like these, which I paid an arm and a leg for. There are also some padded fabric covered children's hangers, those are going really fast, as well as adult and child plastic hangers.

All shelves are $2.90 each.

This morning I found a bag of new toys, lots of notepads and stuff, as well as some Pez dispensers, new in the packages and in sealed little bags. This stuff was behind the microwave and telephone. I remember buying the stuff, but have no idea when ... maybe 3-4 years ago? Would you think less of me if I told you the kids ate the Pez candies? Yeah, they did. They liked it too ... and only 35 calories for a whole little pack of candies.

Oh, the kids are cleaning out the store toys buckets and have already put out a few Thomas sets.

News

The time has come to say goodbye to all our company ...

Not yet, but over the next few weeks. Yes, after 8 1/2 years we're closing the doors of Ditto Kiddo.

The biggest reason ...

• Jason and I want to be home more and focus on the family, homeschooling five kids and just plain raising five kids is where I need, and want, my focus to be right now

There are lots of other reasons mixed in with that but that's the short explanation! If time permits over the next few weeks I'll go into more detail.

Get into the store now! As soon as we tell people of our plans they buy, buy, buy because they know that now's the time. We've got some great stuff right now but it's going fast!

We're no longer buying any items, of course.

We'll be honoring all frequent buyer cards that are in circulation until the end of March, but will not be giving out any new ones.

Tomorrow will be the last Grandparent's Day.

We've been asked if the store is for sale ... sure! Jason and I have a price in mind, but are pretty flexible. If you are interested, act quickly because the landlord is actively trying to lease the space.

Will we be marking everything down? Yes, within the next week or two and I'll post an announcement here ... and even the new merchandise, like Melissa and Doug will be included.

Just about everything is, or will be, for sale ... fixtures, hangers, furniture, office supplies.

We're still bringing things out of the back room and will be for a week or two so the stock will continue to change ... but, like I said, hurry in 'cause once the inventory is gone it's gone!

Our years at Ditto Kiddo have been full of joy and the memories are awesome. I'm sure there will be some tears shed before this is over and done with (um, starting now).

Crib Recall

The recall says there are only about 20,000 cribs involved in the recall, so it's not a super common crib.

But isn't it pretty? I love the detail on the front sides.

Everything is formatting very wonkily (not a word YET, but soon to be recognized as a form of wonky) in this post. Sorry about that!

Neapolitan Family Expo

I just got this in my mailbox:

Saturday, February 23
10am-4pm

We're ready! Don't miss the Neapolitan Family Expo scheduled for this coming Saturday at Coastland Center. Your entire family will have a wonderful time! There is entertainment all day long as well as 60 vendors with information on everything ranging from health care to dance to martial arts to summer camps. Kids can hang out at our creativity stations and try their hand at a variety of art projects. We have a magician, face painting and lots of giveaways. It's all FREE.

Enter Coastland Center by Ruby Tuesdays and stop at the Neapolitan Family booth (under the balloon arch) where you can pick up an Expo packet and get additional information.

See you at Coastland Center Saturday from 10am-4pm!

For additional information call 514-0338 or email andrea@neafamily.com. Thank you and have a great day!

Sincerely,

Andrea Breznay/Publisher

AAhhhh...

Just arrived this morning. Ralph Lauren dresses and sweater, ranging between 12 months and 2T. $9.90 each.

***the colors on these pictures stink ... they're actually all taken against the same blue wall, which most closely resembles the sweater photo. When I started taking the pictures I had a perfect reflection for a car window, it worked like one of those reflector things they use in a photo shoot. And then the car left. Sigh ... the nerve of some people!

OOhhhh....

Just in ... girls dresses with smocking. Beautiful, just beautiful. Each of these dresses are available in a size 6 and a size 8, and sell for $13.90-14.90 each.