Bargain Shoppers Storm Giant Warehouse Sale

08/23/2004

United Way fundraiser held at site of former Harding Carpets

BY MICHAEL-ALLAN MARION
EXPOSITOR STAFF / BRANTFORD
More than 7,000 people streamed into an expansion building on 85 Morrell St. on Saturday to find exceptional deals in the United Way's annual Giant Warehouse Sale.

Many also got a first glimpse of all the work that host King and Benton has done in transforming the former Harding Carpets Brownfield site into the city's latest warehouse. Paula Tysoski, the United Way's campaign manager for the warehouse sale, was up before dawn with her 12-year old daughter, Lexi. They drove to the site at 6 a.m. to spend two hours getting ready to open the doors. But they found thousands of people already lined up at the main door, down Morrell Street and around the corner on Holme Street. Many had brought lawn chairs and were sitting, waiting patiently for the 8 a.m. opening.

"That was a lot of people." said Lexi. "I was surprised." Mother and daughter went in to join scores of volunteers from Brant United Way and King and Benton. When the doors opened, the multitudes flocked into giant storage rooms and tore apart stacks of products from 22 companies. Among the great buys were 2,500 pairs of jeans from Levi's, stand after stand of seed packets from Nu-Gro, and household and personal products from SC Johnson and Procter and Gamble, the new big company coming to town. Other contributors included ITML, Loger Toys, Marco Sales and Incentives Ltd. of Paris, jewelry from Gunther Mele, Mott Manufacturing, First Impression Signs and Designs, Mitten, Saxon, Ardency Corp., Culligan, Tim Hortons, Brooks Signs and TD Canada Trust. Cravo and Carston Metal donated about 400 trolley carts for people to transport their purchases throughout the expansive structure.

By noon, 4,460 buyers had already passed through the door, and stacks were disappearing quickly. Paula Tysoski estimated the sale would bring the United Way about $150,000.

"I think it's a fabulous day," she said. "We've had a lot of wonderful, patient people getting a lot of good deals."

In addition to United Way volunteers and others staffing concessions, Tysoski heaped praise on King and Benton and president Steve Charest.

"Their staff was exceptional. Steve has been incredibly supportive of us."

Charest said he considered offering the building and participating in the Mega-fundraiser part of his drive to integrate community forces, and give the public a chance to see what he has done since he bought the long-closed Harding Carpets less than a year ago. He turned a 10-acre, block-long building, crammed with chemicals, junk and scrap tires, into a Spartan warehouse that is almost completed. Charest is offering to continue hosting the annual warehouse sale and help it grow even larger.