Party in your pj's at Berlin Pajama Party
Country Craft Cupboard owner Karen Lamp said there are just two basic rules for attending the Pajama Party: no personal bags are allowed (shopping bags are handed out at the door) and you must be wearing pajamas of some kind to get in the door from 6-9 a.m.
“We have bouncers at the door making sure everyone is wearing pajamas or a nightgown and robe,” said Lamp with a chuckle. “It’s a fun, party atmosphere - some people come back every year.” Last year, a customer even flew in from California for the sale.
Country Craft Cupboard invites shoppers to bring along donations of new children’s or women’s pajamas, clothing, or disposable diapers for Every Woman’s House, a local shelter for victims of domestic violence. Customers who donate an item will receive a 25 percent off coupon for a return shopping trip between Feb. 1 and May 1 of this year. The store will also donate a percentage of the morning’s profits to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Lamp began the tradition in 1996 as a way of reducing year-end inventory. The idea quickly took hold and by the third year, the store was packed. “We open at six, but some ladies come at 3:30 or 4 a.m. and wait in their cars until the first brave soul gets out. Then they wait in line, bundled in blankets. We serve coffee beginning at 5:15,” she said.
“With the economy the way it is, a lot of people are looking to save money,” she continued. “Our fabric always sells well - people are making blankets and quilts this time of year and it’s a good time to stock up for what’s left of winter. Our 100 percent wool, used for rug hooking and applique, is also popular because it’s an expensive item.”
Along with their fabric and wool, Country Craft Cupboard stocks scrapbooking, cross-stitch and PunchNeedle supplies, patterns, wearables and home décor items. “A lot of people are tired of buying mass-produced items,” said Lamp. “We carry everything you need to make handmade gifts that will become heirlooms.”
The Pajama Party is the perfect excuse to buy a new pair of pj’s or a nightie - and you can pay for them with all the money you’ll save. But if shopping in your pajamas doesn’t sound appealing, you can still get in on the deals. Country Craft Cupboard closes from 9-10 a.m. for an employee breakfast and reopens with a 20 percent off sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Seven or eight years ago, other merchants in town asked if they could be part of the event, Lamp said, and shoppers asked for other places to visit while they were in town. Helping Hands, Old-Time Homespun, Sommers General Store, Berlin Village Gift Barn, Country from the Heart and others will take part in this year’s Pajama Party event. Most open at 7 a.m. with special sales and discounts.
Several Berlin hotels also offer special rates for Pajama Partiers, so if you plan to stay in town, be sure to mention the event when you book your room.
The Pajama Party takes place the last Saturday of January each year. Although it’s in the middle of winter, it has never yet been canceled due to weather. “Unless there’s a blizzard or an ice storm, it’ll go on,” said Lamp. For more information, see http://www.countrycraftcupboard.com or call the store at 330-893-3163.