It's a very special weekend in Olympia - my hometown! Beloved Drees is celebrating 90 years as a retailer in downtown Olympia. A huge milestone for any business much less an independent retailer. Congratulations Drees!
Drees has always been a special destination in downtown Olympia for exquisite gifts and an unmatched shopping experience; even more so now in the age of one-click shopping.
Before I go any further, to set the stage, here is a little about Drees from their website:
Welcome to Drees
We are committed to creating shopping experiences that enhance your home and life. We believe Drees offers more than great products; we create traditions, nurture relationships, enhance homes, and provide a respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our unique product assortment includes exquisite gifts, home furnishings, decorative accessories, fine stationery and season décor, all chosen with great care and a focus on quality and great design.
"We take great care to select high quality items that will stand the test of time. I have always wanted people to love and keep the things they buy at Drees for a long time, like friends," says Drees owner of 43 years, Ruthann Goularte.
Learn more about Drees here.
Browspitality
An evocative term coined by Drees combining "browse" and "hospitality," shopping at Drees is relaxing and inspiring as you discover new, beautiful things around every corner. It's like being in Willy Wonka's chocolate factory or your favorite art gallery. The products are beautiful and unique and the merchandising is exquisite and pleasing to your every sense.
Celebrating 90 Years
I attended Drees' 90th anniversary celebration on Thursday night. Leading up to the event I reflected on what Drees means to me and how it's impacted my life. As you'll see in the reflections below, Drees has had a huge impact on my life.
AT DREES
I grew up AT DREES.
I grew up AT DREES.
My earliest memories of Drees:
at the shop
on 5th Ave,
I ate lemon
bars dusted with lots of powdered sugar
my mom
drank coffee
nutcrackers
– lots of nutcrackers!
Later on
Washington Street:
Holiday open
houses
My first
job
Baking brownies
after school
A barista
at the espresso bar – before Starbucks!
Mrs.
Herring (a favorite regular)
Mary Gates (bought gifts for Bill's executive team)
Assembling
special Christmas boxes
for special
customers (lots of work!)
Unpacking
boxes of merchandise
Pricing
products in the backroom with the
manual
pricing machine (old school!)
Packing
popcorn everywhere – boxes stacked high
to the ceilings
during the holidays
Watering
plants outside
(in my cute
school clothes – usually in flats!!)
Breaking
boxes down and taking them to the
(scary) garbage
room in the alley.
I fell in
love with Haviland Imperatrice Eugenie in high school -
my wedding
china. I STILL love it!
My wedding
registry – the best gifts are always from Drees!
And those beautiful
handblown wine goblets with
a pink
flower. I bought one with each pay check!
Colleagues Gwen, M.J.,
Lisa and Ruthann of course!
Lessons
learned from Ruthann's parents
Madge and Anton (a few tears too.)
Pretty gift
wrap and perfect bows.
Quality, quality,
quality.
Wish lists
and special orders
handwritten
on index cards.
Browspitality…
Drees
aprons – a classic!
Sequined
nametags for staff (after me!)
The Scent
of Spring potpourri
wafting through
the shop signaling a new season.
Best greeting
cards –
Madge’s domain when I worked there!
Personalized
stationery
Black shop
cat – Espresso…
Then shop
dogs…
The
soundtrack of Drees: Louis Armstrong
Ruthann:
The wise one.
Merchant extraordinaire. Impeccable eye. Pisces.
My first boss.
My mentor.
My friend.
My first
client for Fleurish Partners.
Fast
forward:
Drees' website was born in 2011…
Social media
too!
We had fun
bringing Drees into the 21st century!
Now:
It’s time to celebrate 90 years of browspitality
in Downtown
Olympia!
1929-2019
Cheers to
many, many more!
With love and
gratitude,
Amy Hermes
Anderson
November 7,
2019
Cheers to my first boss, mentor, client and friend, Ruthann Goularte who
has owned and stewarded Drees for 43 years.
Drees is magical
year round but it especially sparkles and shines during the holidays. Here are a few photos of the shop right now. Hoping they might inspire you to make a trip to Drees to experience the one-of-a-kind magic for yourself!
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