New B-Town Blog Advertiser GGC Embroidery–Grams Gift Closet–is on a mission; that is “to provide small businesses in the area the opportunity to brand and logo in the same manner as a mid to large size businesses at a lower cost,” so says owner/operator Jeananne Tescar-Burcham.

With this mission in mind, Jeananne created her small business from what was once a hobby. She specializes in personalized-custom embroidery and logo items for local sports teams, companies, families and individuals. Her closet of logo-wear includes sweatshirts, polar fleece, polos and hats.

Jeananne and her husband have had a 20+ year association with, and love for, the Highline Schools where they have worked and volunteered. It was during this time that Jeananne began her “hobby job” embroidering HHS warm ups.

“I saw how the coaches were paying exorbitant amounts for set ups, and small orders,” she said. This is why GGC is proud to offer a no set-up charge, no matter how small the order is. “We’ll do one-ups, there’s no minimums,” she added.

New guy on the team? Need a single item? Not to worry with GGC Embroidery, where Jeananne has set up a unique team and company store on her website for individual schools or businesses who want to order what they want when they want it.

And why would a woman with no grandchildren name a business “Grams”? After her own grandmother of course!

“My grandmother had a quote that inspired me after being laid off from Washington Mutual and making the decision to start the business in a less than friendly economy:

“You can accomplish anything you set your mind to.  It is like the light at the end of the tunnel; it is there.  You may have to kick a few rocks out of the way to find the light, but it is there.”

In her first full year in business Jeananne has “kicked a few rocks” but she is seeing a dramatic growth in her customer base with over 200 satisfied customers in the Burien and greater Seattle area; and an A- rating from the BBB.

When it came time to order some new shirts for our sister site The Waterland Blog, we asked our good friend Wayne Corey of the Des Moines Farmers Market “who does your branded clothing?”  He strongly recommended GGC Embroidery for their service, quick turnaround and embroidery work.

After several very prompt emails, and a visit to her sunny in-home studio in Burien, we quickly had a new “official clothier for our branded blog-wear.”  If the turnaround wasn’t just short of amazing, it’s the fact that we each select shirts to our liking (no two are alike), which means that she had to do a lot of “one-of-a-kinds”.

Are we another satisfied customer of GGC? You betcha! Would we recommend their services for your small business? We sure would.

You can contact Jeananne at 206-931-1548 or click here for the website.

Olde Burien merchant Zizia is hosting a PJ Salvage Trunk Show on Saturday March 6th from Noon – 5pm, themed as the ultimate “girl party,” with PJ Salvage Rep Missy G.

Visitors can order from the entire spring/summer collection of pajamas and beachwear, while sipping your favorite beverage and noshing on snacks.

Zizia is located at 827 SW 152nd in Olde Burien.

Here are the details:

WHAT: PJ Salvage Trunk Show

WHEN: Saturday, March 6th from Noon – 5pm.

WHERE: Zizia, located at 827 SW 152nd in Olde Burien; phone: (206) 242-2646.

INFO: From a press release:

The ultimate “girl party” is back!

Meet PJ Salvage rep Missy G and order from the entire spring/ summer collection of pajamas and beachwear, while sipping your favorite beverage and noshing on snacks.

In addition, we will be introducing affordable luxuries by New York jeweler Wendy Mink. Wendy pieces combine aspects of traditional Eastern world jewelry with classic European design.

A well know artist, Wendy’s work has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Harpers Bazaar magazines.

Take a peak at www.wendyminkjewelry.com.

• Enter a drawing to win a free pair of pajamas
• 10% off all existing PJ Salvage in stock

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Kelly DeRitis, co-owner of Poggi Bonsi, confirmed to The B-Town Blog Thursday that they would be “relocating” the original Poggi Bonsi Gift Store (the corner store in Olde Burien at 9th SW and SW 152nd) to a new location in the Renton Landing.

The new store will be called Poggi Bonsi and will contain a mixture of gourmet kitchen products, as well as imported ceramics, linens and gifts., like Poggi Bonsi Cucina.

The new Renton store will be twice as big as Cucina, with 2,800 square feet.

Until then, they’ll be holding a Moving Sale, with 30% off Imports, 40% off selected Gift Merchandise and 50% off all jewelry. They’ll be open every day starting Nov. 1st at their corner store location (901 SW 152nd).

In mid-November the store will be closed to move the merchandise to the Landing, which will open Thanksgiving weekend. The new store will be located at 920 N. 10th, Suite F, in Renton.

“We’ll still have two stores now in two distinct shopping areas,” said DeRitis. Their Cucina store will remain in Olde Burien, as well as the management of their website (www.poggibonsigifts.com)

BTB Advertiser Howard and Marge Clothing and Accessories will be leaving their Seahurst location to occupy the corner store spot.

Owner Robin Dunkle “hopes to open towards the end of the November, and asks BTB readers to watch for the grand opening.”

A very colorful B-Town Blog welcome goes out to our latest Advertiser: The Digiguy and CPI!

The Digiguy and CPI have been in the digital design and custom embroidery business in their home for the past 17 years. It is owned and manned by Chuck Northcutt Sr. and his son Chuck Northcutt Jr. They specialize in embroidered apparel, Silk-screening, Direct to Garment Printing, pins, patches, lanyards and more.

When BTB travelled to their North Highline Headquarters, we were told to look for the house with the big antennas. Seems that Chuck Sr. is a longtime HAM radio operator. It was his wife Donna that got them into the business when they both retired 17 years ago. Donna bought a small embroidery machine and started making shirts for their HAM radio friends with their ‘handles’ on them. This grew quite quickly into what you see in their former lower-level family room.

They’ve got four Amaya digital embroidery machines as well as a Happy Multi Head and several Melco Single Heads which allows them to take small and large projects.

The Digiguy and CPI tell BTB that sometimes the rather large house is stacked to the rafters with boxes for one single client.

“Customer Service and Quality Control are our number one priorities,” explains Chuck Jr.  Therefore pick up and delivery is no problem, even if they have to rent a moving truck!

Chuck Sr. proudly tells BTB that Chuck Jr. is the “best digitizer in the country.” As a matter of fact, Chuck Jr. travels the country teaching the fine art of digitizing. Jr.’s an award winning digitizer who will be featured in an upcoming issue of Stitches Magazine.

And for t-shirts they’ve got an amazing Amaya Melco Jet that allows direct garment imprints in a matter of seconds from your artwork or picture to the t-shirt. They’ve got customers that come by for a new fresh shirt to wear every week. It can print millions of colors as opposed to screen printing, which takes time to print only six colors.

“The great thing about the Melco Jet is that it’s portable,” explains Jr. Last year they took it down to the Des Moines Classic Car and Wooden Boat Show. They took pictures of entrants as they drove into he Marina and had custom t-shirts waiting for them after the show. If any of our readers are interested in such a perk for your shows or events, click here.

The Digiguy and CPI interests in shows at the Marina could be because the Northcutts have their completely restored 1969 36′ Columbia Sail Boat that’s moored at the Marina and completely outfitted for their impending father-son sailing voyage to Hawaii.

If your school church or other not-for profit needs products for a fundraiser, contact The Digiguy and CPI who will create, produce and deliver products to sell at your event.

Both Northcutts left the corporate world 17 years ago to grow The Digiguy and CPI into a full-blown family business and haven’t looked back. Chuck Sr. claims to have the best commute in the world, as the business is operated in the basement of his home. Chuck Jr. and his family live right next door, so he believes he’s got the second best commute at least in North Highline, where their business is located.

If you or your business recognize the importance of corporate branding for you employees or team, give the Chucks a call at 206-243-7070 to get started. BTB did!

As the “official clothier to The B-Town Blog,” Chuck Sr. and Jr. are busy working on our new summerwear that will be premiered (weather permitting) at the Burien Farmers Market on Thursday, May 7th on 10th Ave SW in Olde Burien. Stop by our booth and check out our new shirts – we’ll be wearing them with pride and you’ll see why!

And what’s next for the Northcutts? For sure, at some point 50-year old Chuck Jr. would “someday like to swim with the Huma fish while living on a beach in Hawaii.” Both Chucks are qualified scuba divers, so this seems like a possibility.

Hmmmmm.

For more information, click on their Ad on the Right Sidebar, go to their website or call them at 206-243-7070.

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3 Wishes Boutique, located at 929 SW 152nd in Olde Burien, is holding a fundraiser for the YWCA’s “Dress for Success” program, and is asking residents to bring in clothing they no longer wear to donate to disadvantaged women.

Here are the details:

WHAT: 3 Wishes Boutique’s “Dress for Success” clothing drive fundraiser for disadvantaged women.

WHEN: Now through May 15th; Hours: Mon.: Fri. 10am – 6pm • Sat.: 10am – 6pm • Sun: 12pm – 5pm

WHERE: 3 Wishes Boutique is located at 929 SW 152nd Street in Olde Burien (map below); (206) 248-3332; email: 3wishesboutique@gmail.com

INFO: Here’s some info from 3 Wishes:

It’s Spring and time to clean out your closets and drawers! Let us help! Bring in clothing you longer wear and receive a certificate for 15% OFF your next purchase of regular price merchandise!

Sound interesting? Here are the details:

Bring in at least 3 clean, gently used pieces of clothing (dresses, skirts, tops, pants, jackets)

We will donate the items to “Dress for Success” in downtown Seattle.

You will receive a certificate for 15% OFF the total value of your next purchase of regular price merchandise.

Donations will be accepted through Friday, May 15th. The certificate can be used through May 31st, 2009. The discount applies to the total value of your purchase of regularly priced merchandise only (does not apply to sale items).

Come join the fun! Save money and lend a helping hand!

About Dress for Success® Seattle:
YWCA Dress for Success® Seattle promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Dress for Success Seattle is part of the national Dress for Success network, which provides interview suits, confidence boosts and career development services to more than 45,000 women in over 79 cities each year.

Locally, DFSS and the YWCA of Seattle-King County-Snohomish County have teamed up to bring these important services to women in need. Since March 2003, DFSS is housed at the YWCA building located in downtown Seattle at the corner of Fifth & Seneca.

Looking good means feeling good. And when you feel good about yourself, that confidence shines through to others…including prospective employers.
In addition to helping clients train for and find jobs through various employment programs, the YWCA also offers Clothing Services to help individuals get the right look for job interviews, office work and more.

We help women entering the workforce after years as stay-at-home-moms, women moving from welfare to work, domestic violence survivors forging new lives, homeless women working towards self-sufficiency and residents of emergency shelters.

Touching Lives:

Janet, age 48:

When Janet left an abusive marriage of 17 years to establish a new life for her and her children in Washington, she was scared, but ready to start building a new, safe life for herself and her family. But just as she began to regain her footing, unfortunate circumstances derailed her career, and she lost her home.

Undeterred, she attended and completed a computer training course offered by a women’s employment program. She was then referred to Dress For Success® Seattle where she received both a new interview outfit and the self-esteem boost that played a key role in finding and securing her new job. “It just filled me with the confidence I needed.”

She views her DFSS experience as a blessing to be shared, saying, “I’ve seen that there is a fine thread of human care and compassion…I want to carry that forward and share it with others. That is what success is.”

…Making a real difference

More info available at the YWCA’s Dress for Success website.

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The B-Town Blog is proud to present its latest Advertiser: “Howard and Marge,” a hip boutique destination for Guys, Gals and Youngsters alike, located near the Seahurst Post Office.

“Howard and Marge” offers unique, edgy, chic clothing, accessories, and gifts you won’t find anywhere else, and they’re located at 2118 SW 152nd.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Robin Dunkle is the owner and operator of the boutique, which she named after her grandparents, who she loves dearly. They have been important in her life and have been a strong influence in making Robin who she is today.

GRAND OPENING PARTY IS AUGUST 17th! 
After opening a few months ago, Howard and Marge is having a grand opening celebration on Sunday August 17, starting at high Noon. The real Howard and Marge are flying up from SoCal for an appearance in the shop that bears their names and likenesses.  There will be fun for the whole family: kids will enjoy a bouncy house, there will be adult and kids refreshments, as well as a BBQ of Smoked Sausages from Dan the Sausage Man. Plan on a fashion show around 3-ish, and enjoy special sales prices on both fashion and accessories.

Howard and Marge has cutting edge fashions, accessories and gifts right in our own backyard.  Some of the New York and LA designers include:

• Childish
• Tarin Tarina
• Yummie Tummie (their claim to fame—as featured on Oprah and previously on the B-Town Blog)
• Sanctuary Clothing
• Steady

ROBIN’S STORY – A FASHIONISTA IS BORN
Robin moved here in 1997 with her dog from Newport Beach, California, where she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles in 1989.  Right after graduating, she started a clothing manufacturing company in Costa Mesa by the name of Tantrumm Apparel, Inc. and Red Heart, Inc. It happened quickly after attending a Super Bowl party during the Gulf War, where she worn a pair of customized 501 Levis. She bleached, washed and painted them to resemble the American Flag, and people at the party went crazy. They all wanted to know where they could purchase her jeans.  So, she knew she had to start making them the next day. She called Nordstrom and showed them a pair of cut off shorts and jeans and that sent the ball rolling with orders all across the West Coast.

Robin was in business!

Once in Seattle, she located in the Junction of West Seattle, which she found fun and exciting. And why wouldn’t she? She met her husband Dusty Dunkle three months later and they were engaged five months after that. The Dunkles now live in Normandy Park and have two sweet little girls, Macy and Avery, and are very much a part of their community. Dusty owns Customer Research on SW 152nd in Burien and the girls attend Creative Minds Montessori.  After working as a Real Estate Executive for Coldwell Banker, Del Bianco for the past decade, Robin really felt that she wanted to get back into the fashion game. She could see the lack of boutique type clothing offered in B-Town and wanted to change this. Robin is pleased to say that Howard and Marge is a family-run business with the added joy of having her sister, and store manager, Jessica Kelley.

Robin and Co. is pleased to say that “the store is doing better than they could have ever hoped for, and the community loves what they have to offer. It’s nice to be able to just run by our shop especially if you don’t have a lot of time to pick up that something special gift or just a cool novelty t-shirt to wear that night at the Tin Room or others of B-Town’s fine, fun restaurants & bars.”

Robin wants to say “thank you Burien for all your support!”

And of course she also wants to invite all of the B-Town Blog readers, as well as current customers, to come on down for the Grand Opening party on August 17 to party-hearty and meet the real Howard and Marge.

So, give Howard and Marge a hearty B-Town Blog welcome by clicking on their Ad in the lower right sidebar and checking out their offerings (and yes, perhaps even getting your own “Yummie Tummie”)!

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The Community Clothing Closet is a church-based outreach program that helps needy Burien-area individuals and families.

They provide absolutely free new and gently used clothing to those in need.

They also serve free lunch every Sunday and host a free community dinner and free groceries the last Sunday of each month.

They are currently seeking volunteers to help – if you live in the Burien or surrounding communities and have a desire to serve the needy…give ‘em a hand!

More info at: www.hope-christian.net

The Community Clothing Closet is located at 1005 SW 152nd Street, Burien, WA. 98166

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