holiday

Well, this isn’t the most exciting of blog topics, but…..

Just a reminder, as we are still getting in many holiday returns/exchanges: If you have an original receipt, any unwashed/unworn merchandise purchased between December 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009 may be returned or exchanged through January 30, 2010.  Any merchandise brought back without an original receipt or after January 30th can be exchanged for merchandise or store credit.  Starting January 1, 2010, the original return/exchange policy of 14 days with an original receipt was back in effect.  Let us know if you have any questions!

We are VERY excited to announce a new partner for the holidays, BORDERS Books & Music in Fairlawn.  Thanks to the local pride & ingenuity by manager John B, he’s added Rubber City Clothing t-shirts to the variety of books, music, and merchandise available for the holiday season.

Along with their year-round great selection of local books, you’ll be able to find a section of local goods such as RCC t’s, Mr. Jingeling (from Higbee’s in Cleveland) merchandise, gear from our friends the Rubber City Roller Girls, and more!  Right now Borders has four RCC styles, but we’ll definitely replenish their stock!  Stop out & say hello to John when you pick up your shirts!

Here’s a little good news from the ABJ:

Cancellation of Christmas not an option

City telling Santa Claus he’ll be needed Friday

By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Tuesday, Nov 24, 2009

What’s Christmas without a little fun, and what’s Christmas without Santa Claus?

Budget cuts in the city have caused downsizing, but the city is not canceling Christmas, thanks to downtown merchants and area businesses.

”The holidays are alive and well in downtown Akron and we want to continue our big holiday presence,” Kimberlee McKee, president of the Downtown Akron Partnership, said Monday. ”The Holidayfest and Chriskindl Market will both take place at Lock 3, just on a smaller scale.”

In a publicity stunt Monday, McKee filed a missing person’s report for Santa Claus, just to make sure he isn’t under the impression festivities are canceled and he’s not needed for the traditional lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at 7
p.m., Friday, as well as the Welcome Santa Parade at noon Saturday in downtown Akron.

”It’s become an annual tradition to kick off the holidays in downtown with fireworks and the lighting of our Christmas tree,” McKee said. ”Unless we find Santa Claus before Friday, the holidays in downtown Akron just won’t be the same.”

Akron police Chief Craig Gilbride took the missing person’s report, vowing that Santa Claus, aka Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or St. Nick, will be found in time for the holiday events. In fact, the report states he was last seen at Lock 3 in Akron on Dec. 25, 2008, and ”never misses the festivities.”

McKee said the Downtown Akron Partnership contributed $8,000 for Friday night’s lighting ceremony and fireworks display. Other donations came from the Knight Foundation, the Akron Community Foundation, FirstMerit Bank, Goodyear, Bridgestone and a dozen other businesses.

Three Chemnitz, Germany, vendors will return to the city on their own, even though the city is not able to support the sister-city exchange. It will be the sixth year at Lock 3 for Mario Hausdorfer (glass ornaments), Frank Kuhnert (wooden items) and Georg Wolfe (ceramics). This year they will be joined at Chriskindl Market by local artisans, artists and craftsmen.

McKee said there will be different local vendors each weekend, so people are encouraged to visit often.

A new feature at this year’s market is the Everything Akron store operated by the Akron-Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau, which will sell Akron hats, mugs, shirts, bags and office products.

Skating will still be available at Lock 3 for free. Skate rental is $2. The ice rink will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7:30 to 10 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. It will remain open into January. Times vary and are listed on the city’s Web site, along with all other downtown festivities, at http://www.downtownakron.com or http://www.lock3live.com.

”Downtown Akron hosting the holidays in downtown Akron is such a great tradition, we just wanted to continue it,” McKee said. ”It should be a very fun evening for everyone.”

After a year or so of writing Bullsheet on this fine blog, I’ve now moved up to the big leagues- I’ve been published.  Buzzbin Magazine, an alternative press/entertainment glossy mag that is taking over Northeast Ohio, was so kind as to allow me to write a holiday gift guide.  Pick up one of these glossy, colorful beauties in a Buzzbin box or at any bar, restaurant, etc. around town (make sure you check out the Ray’s Pub ad on page 31- it’s awesome!); click here to read the article on Buzzbin’s website; or read below, where I have conveniently copied & pasted:

Black Friday Shopping Guide: Gifts That Don’t Require You to Go to a Mall…

GIFTS THAT DON’T REQUIRE YOU TO GO TO THE MALL…
By Sarah Gorring

Why Black Friday is still the busiest shopping day of the year continues to perplex us. Who in their right mind wants to get up at 3am after a heavy turkey dinner to stand outside in line for several hours just to get a discount on a TV that you don’t really need? Or deal with the time and aggravation to simply find a parking spot? We certainly don’t want to deal with holiday shopping madness and we advise you do the same. That’s why we’ve come up with a list of the Top 10 Coolest Gifts to Buy That Don’t Require Going Anywhere Near a Mall and are Local-Shopping Friendly:

1. Oranges. Believe it or not, this tasty citrus fruit was a hot commodity in the last Depression. Pick up a few pounds for under $10 at your local grocer and make sure you mention the “history” of your gift. Then they won’t think you’re so cheap.

2. Oranges make us think of Florida. Florida makes us think of warm weather. Warm weather does not make us think of Northeast Ohio in the winter. Give a loved one (and maybe yourself) a gift certificate for Airtran. They have several daily flights to warm-weather destinations out of Canton-Akron Airport, and they’re very reasonably priced!

3. Can’t afford an airline destination? There are plenty of cool things to do around town. Give tickets to an area attraction like one of our Hall of Fames - Rock and Roll or Football; winter sports games- Cavs, Lake Erie Monsters; or even one of the area’s fantastic art museums.

4. Unique local t-shirts. NEO is home to several really cool t-shirt companies: Rubber City Clothing, 10x Your City, CLE Clothing, Psycho Reindeer, and more. A unique t-shirt is way cooler than that ugly department store sweater.

5. You always see holiday commercials with a cuddly puppy under the Christmas tree. Make that commercial a reality, and give an animal in need a loving home. Contact your Humane Society or animal shelter for available pets.

6. Christmas Ale. Oh, the holidays are that magical time of year when Great Lakes Brewing releases that delicious cinnamon brew. Pick up a 6 pack and know that your gift will be most cherished. Other local brews make great gifts too!

7. Feed a sweet tooth. With so many great local chocolatiers like Malley’s, Temo’s, Harry London, and newcomer House of Bittersweet, you can’t go wrong. You may want to include dental insurance for the consequential cavities.

8. Give ‘em some class. Post holiday is always a popular time to get in to shape, and local gyms and studios have great class packages on fitness, yoga, pilates, dance, and the increasingly popular Zumba. This way your gift receiver can have that second piece of holiday pie and not feel guilty.

9. Give blood, save a life. This gift can’t be put in a stocking or wrapped under a tree, but it will have far greater meaning to the person who receives it. Contact the American Red Cross to find out how you can help save a life by donating blood.

10. Music. With so many cool bands out of NEO, a local album or tickets to a show make great stocking-stuffers.

We are looking for a dynamic, energetic, and trustworthy full-time Holiday Kiosk Manager and 8 equally fun part-time sales associates to manage the Rubber City Clothing holiday kiosk at Summit Mall from December 2-28.

This soon to be famous RCC Holiday Kiosk manager and his or her staff will report directly to the owner of RCC and Made in Akron, and work with the General Managers of both companies to replenish inventory daily, and drive sales by engaging customers and keeping the RCC kiosk as attractive as the brand itself.

The RCC Holiday Kiosk Manager position requires a minimum of 5 years experience in a retail/management setting, while the part-time staff positions require 2 years of retail experience.  Compensation is commensurate with experience.  All candidates must have their own transportations and provide at least 2 credible references that will be contacted if asked to interview.

If you think you’d be a good fit to work with RCC next month, please send an email with RCC Kiosk Manager or RCC Kiosk Staff in the subject line, a letter explaining your interest in RCC and your current resume to jobs@rubbercityclothing.com.

Please do not call Rubber City Clothing or Made in Akron regarding these positions.

I don’t know who came up with this whole ‘Christmas in July’ bit.  I first recognized this phenomena during the summer of ‘96, when the Disney Channel aired 12 days of holiday movies.  Then a few years later my mother started going out early one morning every July to get the newest ornaments at Hallmark for ye olde Tannenbaum which always annoyed my father.  Now, I’m flipping through the recent Scene Magazine and seeing all kinds of bars & restaurants in Northeast Ohio featuring ‘Christmas in July’ because they have a limited run of Great Lakes Brewing ‘Christmas Ale’ (boy is that good, and it sure gets you!).  Considering it is unseasonably cold outside, the economy is depressing, and I’m more than sure there are some homes in Kenmore Akron that still have lights strung outside, why not celebrate and spread a little cheer?  What else do we have to look forward to?  Labor Day isn’t till September, and the only holiday in August is the birthday of yours truly (ask my mother about the ‘Month of Sarah’).  Why not replace that warm feeling of no air-conditioning with a warm feeling in your heart?  Cheer someone up with a  gift from Akron.  Christmas in July, bring it!

In the spirit of this non-existent holiday season, we will be hosting a ‘Christmas in July’ party next Thursday, July 30th (the end of July is still July folks).  Come down to the store between 6-8pm (maybe a little later if we’re feeling squirrely).  We’ll have cheesy Christmas tunes, homemade cookies, all kinds of gift ideas (RCC t-shirts, Goodyear swag, local foods & treats, music, and much much more).  20% off if you really get into the theme of the party and come in wearing your Christmas sweater in July (*not valid on local swag).  Let’s deck these halls!

After a stressful/busy last week (mostly personally with the move, but a  lot going on at the store too), I have decided to start the 4th of July weekend today.  We’ve partnered up with the Downtown Akron Partnership to have a good ol’fashioned cookout.  We’ve got tasty beef hot dogs, potato chips, lemonade, and blueberry pie- like a picnic on High St.  Come down, enjoy some food & shop for some great (NEW!) local merchandise to get you ready for the holiday weekend: a t-shirt to watch the fireworks in, maybe take some Peanut Shoppe nuts along; Crave BBQ sauce for your cookout; even an Akron Aeros baseball to toss around the yard.  Plus, come in for a hot dog, and get 15% off of your purchase.  We’ll be grilling Wednesday-Friday, so stop on by (the Crave PPR hot sauce is pretty good on a hot dog).

Make sure you hit up Main St tomorrow through Saturday for the Akron Rib, White & Blue Rib Festival; and I know you all will be at the fantastic fireworks display on Saturday night.  Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!!!

Aside from providing cool shirts and Akron pride, Rubber City Clothing has a little gift for you this holiday season: FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $55.00 and we are eliminating the $2.00 handling fee!  Order the Akron gift that keeps on giving (we reccommend washing it regularly) and don’t worry about shipping or handling.  How cool is that?  And remember, if you leave us a comment on our Bullsheet (this blog), our MySpace, or our Facebook pages, we’ll send you a code for 10% off.  No SPAM please (we prefer ham anyway).

PLUS…..our Summit Mall kiosk is coming soon!  Visit us this Friday, December 5th in the center of the mall, just behind Starbucks (and across from PacSun).  New merchandise is on its way!

It’s every retail employee’s favorite time of year….the big Holiday season.  Whether customers are shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just for kicks…they are shopping.  And quite a bit.  To make sure everyone can get quality time with their favorite Akron t-shirt shop, we’ve decided to extend our store hours (take note, we’re not usually open on Sundays).  Plus, as an added bonus, you can visit us at Summit Mall in Fairlawn.

Here are our extended hours on North High Street:

Friday, November 28th: 9am-8pm

Saturday, November 29th: 10am-7pm

Sunday, November 30th- Wednesday, December 3rd: 11am-6pm (regular hours)

Thursday, December 4th: 10am-7pm

Friday, December 5th- Saturday, December 6th: 10am-8pm

Sunday, December 7th- Wednesday, December 10th: 11am-6pm (regular hours)

Thursday, December 11th: 10am-7pm

Friday, December 12th: 10am-8pm

Saturday, December 13th: 10am-11pm

(We’re having a really awesome holiday party with our neighbors, We Gallery.  Join the fun and get 10% off your purchases.)

Sunday, December 14th: 11am-6pm

Monday, December 15th-Wednesday, December 17th: 10am-7pm

Thursday, December 18th: 10am-6pm (closing earlier because we will be at an event at the Akron Art Museum)

Friday, December 19th-Saturday, December 20th: 9am-8pm

Sunday, December 21st: 10am-7pm

Monday, December 22nd-Tuesday, December 23rd: 9am-8pm

Wednesday, December 24th: 9am-3pm

Thursday, December 25th: CLOSED

Friday, December 26th: Back to regular hours, 11am-6pm

For information on our Summit Mall kiosk’s hours, please click here.

Thanks to everyone for their patience these last few days with the remodeling going on at Rubber City Clothing.  Sorry that it extended into Wednesday, but the extra day was much needed.  We’re just about done, with fresh paint, new fixtures, and some more sales space.  It’s working out so much better than we originally planned.

The store is really coming together, with special thanks to Karen & Wendy from We Gallery next door.  They have done an AMAZING job of creating, building, and installing a lot of the new fixtures in the store.  We’d also like to thank Beth from the Akron Art Museum, for helping us out with her stellar painting skills.  These girls are truly awesome.  We’re open back up now, with a few more little changes to come.  All should be complete by Monday, so come in and check out our revamped space!

Our new holiday line should be coming in soon- about 2 weeks.  We’ve got some really cool new designs, plus some new colors of some of your favorite RCC classics.  We’re also getting some replenishment of some things we’ve been out of stock in, like the Li’l Slugger t-shirt and hoodie, the “330″ hoodie, and our Route 8 line.  We are taking pre-orders on some items, so if there’s something you know you want, give Sarah G a call at the store- 330.434.4722 and let her know.