Koon tz f u r n iturea nd
And lik design.c e u s o n Face om book!
Best Boutique Jezebel’s
Runner-Up
The Ivy House
Best Woman’s Apparel Store Jezebel’s
Runner-Up
Adobe east
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Hottest Ticket in Town Symphony Under the Stars Runner-Up
FAFO
Best Spa
Face the Day Salon & Spa Runner-Up
Azulene Day Spa
Best Place to Buy Resale The White Elephant Runner-Up
The Carriage Trade
Best Community Event Best Cultural Activity Light Up Ocala
Ocala Civic Theatre
Runner-Up
Runner-Up
The Ocala Christmas Parade
Appleton Museum of Art
Best New Business
Best Equine Event
Corkscrew Runner-Up
HITS- Horse Show in the Sun Runner-Up 4-H Horse Show
Hello Little One 3D/4D Ultrasound
Best Children’s Boutique The Monkey Cage Runner-Up
Olivia & Co.
Best Radio Personality Lewis Stokes of K Country Runner-Up
The Dave & Bo Show on WTRS
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Ellen Poe is deeply appreciative od the community’s continued involvement. “These stores are a highly visible way through which the community can support our mission – both through shopping and donating high quality items,” explains Poe. “Dollars generated from sales help us provide many outreach programs, such as the children’s bereavement camp, our support program called ‘Transitions’ and community grief seminars. Our goal is to provide the finest care and services possible to everyone in Marion County, regardless of their situation.” Merchandising Manager Mike West echoes that alignment to the company mission and is delighted with the stylish upgrades he and his team have created at each location, giving each one a unique flare and enhancing customer satisfaction. Operating the stores not only requires fulltime managers, but also hundreds of volunteer associates, inventory-takers and cashiers. The Terrace Shoppes store in Summerfield recently underwent a complete renovation and is now the largest of the five stores. With a Parisian theme, including wrought iron street signs and lamps, painted scenes and café-style awnings, the shopping experience here is très magnifique with its specialty departments. Last fall, West recognized the need for additional square footage at the Jasmine Square store, moving it to a larger retail space within the same plaza. The re-location gave him the opportunity to install bright lighting, pastel finishes and a hand-painted floral archway, plus a furniture department, which all the stores now have. Most recently, he opened the Six Gun Plaza store, which showcases a western theme reminiscent of the location’s original history. All the stores’ decorative wall painting is courtesy of volunteer Diana Harris, a former professional muralist. She has even styled the dressing rooms—no two are alike. Her artistic touches truly set the stores apart from each other and any store in town. A new feature is inclusion in the Boutique Shop Hop. RCS Bus Tours in The Villages is offering a shopping excursion to all five Hospice Thrift Stores. Leaving from the Spanish Springs Station, Thursday, December 12, the cost is $25 and includes a buffet lunch. Reservations for a seat on the bus are available by calling (352) 438-1138. “Hospice is very proud to be a part of the shop hop tour,” says West. “We look forward to meeting new customers via this convenient and enjoyable shopping excursion.”
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mike West
While the look and feel of the Hospice Thrift Stores has changed, the foundation on which they were built remains the same. The mission of Hospice of Marion County is to provide exceptional compassionate end-of-life care to our community is evident in the dedication to quality merchandise and the care of volunteers. With a daily influx of new inventory, who knows what special collectible or incomparable bargain you might find inside the newly improved and decorated stores? Like Bailey and the old sewing machine, you just might uncover something that touches your heart while supporting an organization that touches the lives of our friends and neighbors.
If You Go
For information on the Hospice Thrift Stores or to become a volunteer associate, visit www. hospiceofmarion.com or call (352) 873-7400.
connie miller
need for expansion. When she moved into her Ocala location almost four years ago, she started with a small space that was, at one time, a convenient store. It wasn’t long before the store needed more space, and Connie lucked out when the space next door became vacant. With the cooperation of her landlord, Connie was able to occupy the spot next door and join her existing shop to the neighboring shop with a new, connecting entryway. This expansion gave Connie more space for her jewelry displays and eye-catching handbags, nautical novelties and precious tea sets, but soon she was in need for even more square footage. When attorney Shannon Reynolds decided to leave the plaza, Connie quickly capitalized on the available space and once again had her landlord cut her an entry that would finally connect all three buildings as her own. With the new square footage, Connie was able not only to offer her consigners more space
for their treasures, but also able to rent out an entire room to two ladies who have filled and manage their own rooms, independently. Between the two, customers will find angels, cookbooks, glassware and more. From the tiniest button to large armoires and kitchen hutches, Connie’s consignors have it all. Not every consignor has a large inventory, and Connie has a remedy for that. Offering a Rent-A-Shelf option, where individuals can pay $15 per month to “own” a shelf inside Connie’s large, glass enclosed case, consigners can sell even the smallest of items. From Disney collectables and Harley Davidson memorabilia to team favorites and locally made syrups, the Rent-A-Shelf section at Connie’s makes for a clever display and provides even more options to her customers and treasure hunters. One novelty item Connie carries is the world famous Poo-Pourri. What in the world is Poo-Pourri, you ask? Well, to be quite frank, it’s a toilet fragrance. Called the #2 Spray, it’s a
sweet, lemony scent that you spray in the bowl before you “go.” It eliminates odor and makes for a clever product – a product people search for far and wide. Connie also sells new items such as her blinged-out handbag collection, rhinestone belts, jewelry and, coming very soon, authentic Oakley sunglasses. Not everything Connie carries has been used, but it certainly all needs to find a new home. With nearly 20 years experiences in helping gently used, pre-loved items find new homes and new purposes, Connie Miller is sincerely an expert in her field. She is happy to now call Ocala home and loves the warm welcome and support this community has granted her over the past four years in business here. Connie, John and Tinkerbell look forward to having you as their next customer turned friend.
If You Go
For more information on connie’s Thrift and consignment, call 352.690.6622 or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/conniesthrift-consignment-shop. and for more information on the RcS Bus Tours, visit www.RcSbustours.com.
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ETC.
airmail During an interview on 60 Minutes, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says, “In the not-too-distant future, deliveries could come, by air, directly to your doorstep!” The delivery service is called Prime Air. The monster on-line retailer revealed unmanned aerial vehicles, he called drones, that would attach to products weighing under 5 lbs and literally deliver these items to your door – in 30 minutes or less. Looking like small helicopters, or very large flies, these drones are projected to take flight sometime after the FFA rules in 2015. Imagine what this would mean for Christmas! For more information on Amazon’s Prime Air delivery service, and for links to the 60 Minutes interview, visit http://money.cnn. com/2013/12/01/technology/amazon-drone-delivery/.
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