Stevie Daniels came to shop. She loved what she saw, and returned to Renewal two days later — with a WMAR camera team to film a feature on the store! The video footage shows the many departments, outstanding choices, and sophisticated display of clothing, accessories and jewelry at Renewal. Susan Posner gave an outstanding presentation of Renewal as shopping for a cause, promoting sustainability, and providing affordable fashion. Susan says somehow a 90-minute visit turned into a fabulous 2-minute television feature. Stevie says she is now a 100% regular customer!
Tag: vintage
New and Vintage Wedding Gowns and Evening Wear.
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COS Customer
As April is upon us, Guilford Stroll is featuring the Carry On Shop in the fourth of a wonderful series of articles on the Women’s Board. Nathan Diennes, of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Development Office, recounts his fun and finds as he spends time at the shop– the thrill of the hunt amid the varied, ever changing merchandise; the joy of a special find as well as a great deal; the delight of meeting the volunteer team, John the manager, and of course the loyal customers. The stories of these customers are part of the spirit of the shop. They include students new to Johns Hopkins “thrift shopping” for furnishings and wall art, employees and staff of the medical campus browsing during a needed break, faithful followers checking in to see what’s new, lovers of vintage clothing, along with people who use the store and visits with John and the team as a chance to find affordable things, experience caring and kindness.
Kathy Abbott has been a proud member of the Women’s Board since 2011. It all started in 2009, when Pam Hindsley, then Best Dressed Sale chair, wisely asked her to help with Vintage Clothing donations. As Kathy’s most recent education had been in Costume History and Design, she was thrilled to accept because of her passion for vintage clothing and because of the worthwhile cause of contributing to benefit patient care at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
After volunteering for the board for several years and finishing a second degree in Theatre, Design and Production at Towson University, she became a member ready to dedicate her newly found free time to the Women’s Board. Kathy has continued to oversee Vintage, at first at the Best Dressed Sale, then at the shop at Kenilworth Mall, now at Renewal and at the Carry On Shop. In addition to co chairing the Carry On Shop, she has helped with Great Taste events, the Golf Classic, and any number of other committees needing volunteers.
Kathy’s favorite committee has been Hospital Relations (now Grants and Awards), thus being part of the review of grants submitted by various departments and of the decision as to how to allocate the funds the board has worked so hard to raise. For Kathy, a personal benefit of being a board member has been the number of wonderful women she has had the opportunity to meet, and the friendships that have evolved when she thought all her friendships already had been made!
The other day Lisa, the mother of an eight year old with cancer, requested Carry On Shop cards to bring back to Children’s Oncology. She described how wonderful the shop is to her for respite and solace from the hospital. Retail therapy is so necessary when ongoing family crisis. Lisa loves vintage and discovered our store while out walking. Pam Babij is in touch with Lisa and gets weekly updates on her son’s status. In Pam’s words, our team at COS loves our customers. The shop is so small that we really can spend time with them and get to know each unique, amazing and heartwarming story.
