Former Bluffton resident Lois Kreider spoke during the Et Cetera Shop's 40th anniversary volunteer banquet in late April. Here are her remarks, which include the retelling of how the Et Cetera Shop in downtown Bluffton came to be.
By Lois Kreider
Can it be—40 years?
But to recall how it all began, we need to go back even farther than 40 years.
In 1961 our family spent a year in Akron, Pa . Robert was on sabbatical and traveling to set up the Teachers Abroad Program (TAP). I was there with five children—age six months to 4th grade.
I met Edna Ruth Byler who I had known in 1945 while in Akron waiting for my papers to join Robert to do relief work in Germany.
In 1947 she had been in Puerto Rico with her husband to visit Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) programs.
She learned of an MCC project working with local women who were hoping to sell their needlework. Edna Ruth bought some items with the hope of taking orders for more sales.
Several years later she bought samples of needlework in Hong Kong, then Jordan. It was the Palestinian tablecloths that I saw her hanging on the washline. She was becoming known as the “Needlework Lady”. Robert in Haiti in his travels brought back wooden items and she added them to her offerings. She was also receiving items from MCC’s Appalachia program.
Then I learned that she was taking some of these crafts to local churches and showing then to women’s groups—selling and taking orders.
Could she come as far as Bluffton, Ohio? Would we really want her to come?
She came the following summer. I remember how pleased she was to see the interest of women in what she had to present and with the stories of the families who were being helped.
Her display table was beautiful as she had polished a brass bowl and asked for some fresh flowers. We sold maybe $100 and took a few orders. Thus began the sale of Overseas Needlework in Bluffton.
And that began annual sales in the late '60s and early '70s of her needlework. And sales and orders grew. We would hear people say, “I wish I had ordered more” and “When will she come again?”
We spread the word to local churches and neighboring newspapers. One year as the door was opened it was raining and 100 people were waiting to come in. Our first sales were in the First Mennonite Church basement. Then in the building next door and the basement. Twenty or more women were helping with these sales. And some husbands. Through out the year we would receive the orders and deliver them. In 1973 our annual sale brought $5,000.
We began to dream of having this available all year long. To have a shop - but how could it be financed? Gerber’s Photo Studio welcomed us to display items in their window for sale. We ordered more by telephone or letter to keep the display looking good. Orders would usually come by someone traveling from Akron by train or car.
For years MCC had been sending warm clothing overseas but the program was now shifting to warm countries. Manitoba in Canada was flooded with warm clothing. What to do? John Hostetler, in charge of Material Aid at Akron, Pa., said, “We need a machine to turn these clothes into cash.” Four women in Altona had a tea party to discuss this and decided they would open a thrift shop to try to sell the abundance. The first MCC thrift shop opened in Altona, Manitoba, Canada, in 1972.
The following summer our daughter, Karen, planned to attend a summer camp in Manitoba. After we delivered her to the camp we attended a church in Altona and were invited to dinner at friends. There we heard more about the new MCC store where she was volunteering.
More dreaming. Could we combine selling self-help with donated used goods?
In October 1973 a business man from Bluffton returned from a visit to the MCC headquarters having learned about the self-help program and excited about an idea he had for Bluffton. We could set up a warehouse here and distribute these craft items to shops along the highway. Bring in a voluntary service couple with business experience to manage the operation.
He brought this report to the First Mennonite Church council. A committee of six men was appointed to study the feasibility.
Feeling some may not be fully aware of what was already being done with Self-Help, I became a little bold. I went to Dr. Ramseyer (interim pastor at First Mennonite). Next month we would be having another of our annual sales. We have at least 20 women who are familiar with these products. We would like to start a shop with Self-Help and donated goods—here in Bluffton.
Another committee was appointed—two business men Bruce Shelly and Allen Yoder, business woman, Vidella Herr, Helen Gratz and myself. Representing even more boldness – perhaps audacity especially when I knew that we would be leaving early in February for 2 1/2 months for an overseas MCC assignment - I went to Bruce Shelly to volunteer to manage such a shop. How would you see it organized? I drew up a chart. Some hesitation. Someone said, “But she does come from a business family.”
There were other questions. A building? A building became available for $145 a month. We should have funds to cover rent for a year. So we asked who would give $100 and soon had the funds. Would anyone really buy used things? If garage sales, a new idea and successful, surely this shop would be also.
Recycling was in its infancy. I shared with a neighboring church inviting them to participate. “We’ll wait and see.” There was caution and hesitation.
And thrift was not a good image in Ohio. We did not use the term. We talked of donated new and used items. We talked of two stores in one-half Self-Help and half used items. We wanted a name that would sound more like a boutique. Carolyn Urich Rich came up with “Et cetera Shop”—a little of everything.
On a Sunday morning we invited anyone interested in being involved to meet after church. We passed a paper and asked them to designate their interest — working with Self-Help or donated items, pricing, displays, window, cleaning, sales, clerking, etc. Marcille Habegger who had just retired from bookkeeping at the local hospital volunteered to be treasurer. We had our team! Six weeks later Et cetera Shop opened!
The treasurer and I were discussing how much cash we should have in the cash register to begin operation. Perhaps $30? Just then someone unknown to us entered. “I will not be able to volunteer to help. But I would like to give you a little money” and handed us $30! Providence?
Justina Baerg who was helping initiate stores in Manitoba stopped in Bluffton on her way to Akron. “You are well organized and ready to start.” As we returned from taking her to the airport I talked with Helen Gratz and received her consent to fill in as manager while I would be away for the 10 weeks for an MCC assignment to Africa and Asia with Robert. Things went well but the day I returned she turned it back.
Comments in the early days and weeks: “Why it looks like a real store!” “It doesn’t look like I thought it would. It’s so attractive.” “It is just what our church needed.” “Meet me at Et cetera Shop.” Carey Steiner, retired teache,r who lived in an upstairs apartment, enjoyed reporting to his Sunday school class how Et cetera was doing financially. “The first week of the month our sales paid the rent and utilities. So the rest of the month goes to MCC.”
By the end of the first year more churches joined in. Some couples from Elida volunteered to come Friday evenings to keep the store open. A group of women from West Liberty came once a month bringing donations and working.
A seed was planted in Bluffton. And it grew and flourished and multiplied. Someone said: “Some planted, some watered, but God made it grow.”
But seeds must be watered and nurtured if they are to grow. Soon there were inquires from churches in eastern Ohio and Archbold. And a store opened in Reedley, Calif., and Souderton, Pa. And on and on. It is a remarkable story of growth these 40 years. And this store alone has sent $2 ½ million to MCC. Remarkable, indeed.
There have been many changes and development. Purchase of buildings. Paid management. More men involved with furniture and appliances. Ordering by computer and use of credit cards. Separation of now Ten Thousand Villages from Thrift stores.
But there are some things we do not want to see changed. The commitment of so many dedicated persons. The consistent vision of shops to care about local and global communities. Satisfaction of working together with those of other churches. Meaningful program of MCC and the awareness it brings of needs and challenges from around the world. You can add more.
It is essential to encourage the spirit of volunteering among younger generations. I am always pleased to see younger persons assuming volunteer jobs as well as management roles.
When I was here for your 20th anniversary celebration I concluded by saying, “if you continue this vision I am confident this shop will be strong and healthy 20 years from now. It would be exciting to have an invitation to that celebration in 2014”.
And it is! May you be blessed with many more fruitful years.
- Lois Kreider
