THE NOOK AT AGB
Zo Much More Retail Display: The Nook at The Arc of Greater Brockton (Middle shelf)
Zo Much More is beyond excited to announce our first ongoing retail placement: The Nook, at the Arc of Greater Brockton (AGB) Employment Services location.
Custom orders - placed by getting in touch with us - remain the heart and soul of the Zo Much More model. We love that personal interaction and opportunity to customize to make it exactly what our customer wants and might not be able to find anywhere else.
But like any small business, we relish the opportunity to try out new channels and we've had our eyes on a particular slice of the retail market. We have noticed a trend of more and more retail locations popping up that showcase products and artwork created by individuals with disabilities. These settings can range in size from a single shelf in a cafe to an entire store in a mall, but regardless of the size, there are products to stock, transactions to complete; customers to assist, etc. which lines right up with Zo Much More's favorite topic: disability employment. We love that many of these settings also provide valuable employment and/or training opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The Nook is located in the Employment Services Building at the AGB and we are grateful for their invitation to have Zo Much More products share shelf space along with those created by their own participants in their adult programming. Employment Services at AGB is an incredibly impressive place featuring not only The Nook but also so many other employment skills training opportunities. They house an incredible can & bottle redemption center, train culinary staff in a restaurant-style kitchen, provide lawn care services, event management and lots more. They also house an innovative partnership with IdentoGo. It's a place filled with energy and opportunity!
The Nook already had a few bracelet providers so we placed 70 products fidget pens, keychain/bag charms and picture holders at The Nook about a month ago and as of this morning more than half of them - including all 20 fidget pens - have sold. Of course we're thrilled that our products are selling, but we really love the opportunities they are creating.
Huge thanks to Sam Decoste, Dean Rizzo and all of the staff at AGB for all they do - and for this retail opportunity for Zo Much More. We hope it will be the first of many!