Ray and MaryBeth Strassel are getting out of the business of running the Quinn's Essentials store in Ypsilanti’s Historic Depot Town district. But they aren't giving up on the business.
The couple, which has run the 3,600 square-foot store for about eight years, has decided to re-invent the business with an eye toward riding out the ups and downs of Michigan's economy – while also gaining the flexibility they want as they reach retirement age.
"The nature of retail is changing," MaryBeth Strassel said. And so is life. So, the business, which sells ladies’ apparel, jewelry, holiday décor and other items, has to change, too.
Running a store is always difficult, but in the Michigan economy of today, Strassel said, it has become more and more challenging. Add to that the fact that more people are shopping online, she said, and the time and effort needed to run and market the store simply became too much. But why run a store when you can sell enough goods without one?
In recent years, the Strassels have been invited to non-profit organizations’ benefit shows throughout the Midwest – shows at which vendors sell their wares and donate a portion of the sales to the organization. Those opportunities have been so lucrative that the Strassels will now concentrate on them exclusively, without having a brick-and-mortar store at all.
The reason, Strassel said, is that she and her husband can sell as much at one show as they might in three weeks at the store – without the overhead and the time commitment involved with running a store. That time commitment, she said, is a big factor because they couple is reaching retirement age and wants to have the flexibility to work only when they want to.
Strassel said she and her husband have not taken a real vacation since opening the store. And that just isn’t acceptable anymore. Now that the couple’s Strassel said have scattered across the country she said, “we want to see them sometimes.”
Strassel said the show sales business started with the Quinn’s participation in the Cranbrook School’s Giftorama event eight years ago. Since then, she said, “we’ve really gotten it down pat.”
Holding a Sale
Quinn’s has been running a going-out-of-business sale, which will continue through Christmas. The store will close early nest year.
In a statement, stated Debbie Locke-Daniel, executive director of the Ypsilanti Area Convention & Visitors Bureau said: “The closing of Quinn’s Essentials will be a big loss for the Ypsilanti community. Quinn’s has been a destination store and attracted shoppers from many adjacent counties. The Strassel’s have also been wonderful community boosters and generous with both their time and donations to many local fundraisers.”
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