Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Cretcher. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Thousands of party supplies available through their online store in addition to their brick-and-mortar stores started in September 2000 with a small 400 square foot card store hidden in the back of a building. Amy knew from the very beginning that it would take a focus on excellent customer service and word-of-mouth advertising to help customers find her small 2 for $1 card store that was practically hidden from view. Amy also knew three very important secrets. The first secret is to listen carefully to what her customers “wish” they could find in her store. A shopping wish list is kept next to every register and phone so the requested items can be added to the next inventory order. The second secret is to make sure her customers know how much their business is appreciated. The original store still gives a free greeting card any time a customer refers a new shopper. The third secret is to treat employees like gold. Even employees, who aren’t family, feel like family. At least three have worked well into their 80’s and many of the younger folks have gone away to college and still keep in touch. All three of Amy’s daughters help in the stores and even the husbands get into the act during busy seasons.
Over the years, the small store expanded several times in the same building and now offers many gift items, greeting cards, and party supplies in an adorable setting with an antique store and hair salon within the same courtyard. In 2007, the name was changed to Amy’s Cards, Party & More by the marketing class at the local high school to better reflect the expanded inventory. At the same time, the fun pink and yellow logo was created by, well-known artist Tony Trotti. In 2010 a second store was added just 2 miles away which expanded party supplies and balloons into their own location and in 2013 a warehouse was added to store the inventory which would lead to the opening of the online store amyspartystore.com in 2014. In 2017 Amy & Ashley were able to build their dream store and combine all two stores and our shipping center into one location. Which is now directly across the street from LEGOLAND, Florida.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t always been easy; we have had to learn to adapt and change through our 21 years in business to the needs of our customers. We have always listened to and implemented ideas to make shopping at Amy’s easy. We are known for our customer service and for creating a fun experience for customers to shop with us.
As you can imagine we started by just selling 50 cent greeting cards out of a small 500 sq. ft garage to growing into our retail store as you see it today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My name is Ashley and I co-own Amy’s Cards, Party & Gifts with Mom, Amy. I started working alongside my mom at the young age of 12 learning to run the cash register, speaking with customers, and answering phones. I grew up alongside this business and my mom always let us be creative with the business. She never turned us down, she always let us run with our ideas and helped us infiltrate our ideas into the store whether it was new brands, displays, new websites, etc.
I worked all through high school at the shop and even through college on the weekends coming back to work. I graduated from the University of South Florida with both a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Marketing. I worked for a small family-owned company for about a year after I graduated while my husband was in Afghanistan. Once my husband returned, I really felt I could grow Amy’s into a larger scaled business online as well as brick and mortar.
We quickly grew it over the years and eventually needed a bigger space and we moved to our location in front of Legoland as it is today.
I think the thing I am most proud of is our customer service skills and how each one of our employees truly cares about our customers. We strive to give the best service possible; we believe that sets us apart from most businesses. From a phone call to get customers inside our door, it is all about the customer experience.
We are so also proud of the way we have adapted and learned to use social media to grow our business. Through the pandemic, we have had to really make an effort to learn how to use many different forms of social media through TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and even google. We are always evolving and trying to stay up with the trends.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I always tell business owners or people who are wanting to start a business is to take the risk, if you don’t take the risk, you will never reap the reward.
Contact Info:
- Email: support@amyspartystore.com
- Website: www.amyspartystore.com
- Instagram: @amyspartystore
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyspartystore
- Other: @amyspartystore (Tik Tok)
