‘This entire move has been fun,? said Cassandra Perry, co-owner of The Scrapping Post with her mom Diana Renouf. ‘You just don’t realize what you have until something bad happens unfortunately.?
The ‘something bad? Perry is referring to is a fire the devastated The Scrapping Post earlier this year in downtown Oxford. The small business had been located in the northwestern block of the village. Perry explained that the blaze – which she added is still being investigated by her insurance company, but was determined to be caused by faulty electrical work in combination with a leaky roof by fire investigators – destroyed everything.
‘There wasn’t a sheet of stickers left,? remember the business owner.
But thanks to the dedication, devotion and help of many local businesses and individuals, The Scrapping Post has made its big return with a bigger location and even bigger selection.
The Scrapping Post is now located at 210 S. Washington St. in the Oxford Marketplace. The new store opened on Sept. 7 and features 2,850 square feet and retail and work space.
‘We decided on the new location because we didn’t want to take the time for the landlords to rebuild,? explained co-owner Cassandra Perry. ‘We had been looking for a larger space anyway.?
The new store offers the same high quality scrapping materials and scrap booking workshops, as well as a few new extras. Those participating in the workshops now have eight-foot tables to work on instead of the previous four-foot, and co-owners Perry and Renouf have provided a small area for coffee and drinks.
Also, for those who bring the little ones shopping with them, a new Kiddie Post just for the kids is available. The youngest scrappers can spend time in the barn-themed area watching movies, coloring or reading books.
‘It’s not for those attending a workshop, it’s somewhere for the kids to go while the adults are looking around the shop,? explained Perry.
‘And it saves us a lot of sticker sheets,? she added with a sly smile.
As for the products, The Scrapping Post can still get those hard to find items and still provides that well known one-on-one assistance. Perry added that everything right now in the store is brand new, and more materials are coming in daily.
‘We don’t even have a sale section at the moment because everything’s so new,? she joked.
Above all though, Perry wanted to emphasize the most important feature of the store ? The Scrapping Post Community Tree.
The Community Tree was drawn by Scrapping Post customer Heather Chalou, of Oxford, and honors all those who helped the small business get back on its feet. Perry said that right now there are 50 names on the wall.
‘I knew I wanted this for the store, a place for our community,? said Perry. ‘I wanted somewhere to be able to show them, to give them a piece of the store.?
Perry said without the aid of many other businesses, the business would not have been able to rebound so quickly. Just a few of the many companies and individuals mentioned by Perry include Tom’s Hardware, Sue’s Ceramics, Jan’s Scrapyard in Lapeer, Simple Pleasures Scrapbook Treasures in Troy, Brook’s Home Improvement and Curtis Flooring.
‘The Oxford firefighters were the first to help us,? Perry remembers. ‘They were wonderful. They kept coming up to us one by one. They really relayed the sense of community we belonged to at that moment.?
‘There are no words to thank everyone for what they’ve done for us,? she continued. ‘If it wasn’t for everyone ? especially my employees and the flexibility they have shown ? we couldn’t have done this. I just can’t say thank you to everyone enough.?
The Scrapping Post is open on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4p.m.; and Sunday from 12 – 4 p.m.
For more information, please call 248-236-9642 or e-mail scrappingpost-@yahoo.com. Scrappers can also go online to www.scrappingpost.com.