Being Thankful During a Pandemic Lockdown.
It’s no secret 2020 has easily been the most challenging year of my nearly 21 years in business with Treasure House Books & Gifts. With the pandemic in its eight month, and the second week our lockdown re-closure, it’s easy to feel defeated, worn-down and fed-up. Yes, lots of bad things have happened. The State Fair was cancelled, Balloon Fiesta was cancelled, Halloween was cancelled, Holiday Stroll has been cancelled, and we can’t be open for Black Friday or Small Business Saturday.
However, I’m actually finding much to be thankful for going into the holiday season.
Just yesterday, despite the Holiday Stroll not happening, it was wonderful to see the giant Old Town Christmas Tree being constructed in Plaza Don Luis. Thanks to Laura Martinez and the Old Town Basket and Rug Shop for keeping one Old Town Tradition Alive.
I’m also very grateful to our many loyal customers, who have continued to buy from us, whether in-person, over the phone or online, despite the economic hardships they may be facing as well. Its so good to know you still support us.
I also couldn’t survive without the support of Albuquerque & New Mexico’s wonderful community of writers and publishers, many of whom have become dear friends and great boosters of the shop over the years. Thank you all for your kindness.
And also I’m extremely thankful to the City of Albuquerque, for approving our store for a very generous COVID-19 Relief Grant which will go to help pay our business expenses in the coming months, including the paying of invoices and restocking the shelves. I hope to have the shelves full of the best in New Mexico books in the coming months.
And of course, I’m most thankful to my family, my wife Susan and my father Jim, for their encouragement, help and positive attitude these past few months. I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Overall, I’m feeling optimistic about the future and hopeful that we will be able to reopen the store sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, we are gearing up for some virtual events to occur on or around Small Business Saturday, November 28. Check our Facebook Page and web calendar for the full listing. I hope to have at least a couple new recorded video interviews with authors ready to go by then.
To encourage mail, phone and web orders, we are again offering FREE USPS Media Mail shipping on all orders, through December 24. If you need something to arrive before Christmas, I suggest ordering before December 15th at the latest.
If you are ordering books for Christmas from our Bookshop site, https://bookshop.org/shop/treasurehousebooks, I also suggest ordering as early as possible. Some folks have been getting their shipments in as little as a week, while others report it can take up to three or four weeks. Better to be safe than sorry for the holidays. I’m also told that Bookshop is working on a way to purchase gift certificates to their site as well. This should be up and running before Thanksgiving.
And don’t forget you can get audiobooks from us too at https://libro.com/treasurehousebooks . an audiobook gift subscription is a great idea, and half of the cost goes directly to us.
Enough of my yapping. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay warm. We wish you a happy holiday season.
John Hoffsis
Treasure House Books & Gifts.
