Warehouse Clearnace Center offering club bargains

AUGUSTA — Chrisha Wright says that every time a pallet arrives at her business, Warehouse Clearance Center, it's “kind of like Christmas.”

The owner of the business, which obtains items big box club stores don't want, is passionate about her business and has seen it grow over the years.

“Regular customers come in all the time to see what's new,” she said. “We never know what we're going to get, so it's a surprise for everyone... including me.”

Wright orders merchandise the warehouse club stores don't want for some reason.

“It could be they want to use the shelf space for something else, it could be because the items are seasonal, it could be overstock or it could be the item isn't selling in that environment,' she said.

What she does know is that items can include everything from Ugg boots to diapers.

“We get some really good brands and lots of household and clothing items at huge discounted rates,” Wright said.

Wright went into the warehouse clearance business in June of 2004 when she acquired the business from her mother, Carolyn Malone, who had owned the Arnold's Discount Bakery – located in the front of the building that faces Route 206 — since 1989. The bread/bakery business had been so successful, that Malone had added a warehouse clearance business to the back of the store. Her wanting to retire coincided with Wright being laid off from her job as a bank manager. Malone got to retire as Wright decided to put her financial skills to a different sort of use: behind the helm of the warehouse clearance business. Arnold's was sold to a third party.

Warehouse Clearance gets in a lot of varying merchandise.

“It's a great place to come and shop in general and around the holidays, you can find some amazing buys,” Wright said. Items include non-perishable food items, toys, games, vacuum cleaners, seasonal items, holiday decorations and items, glasses, jewelry, foil pans for serving at parties, outdoor furniture, fertilizer, baby wipes, diapers, and so much more.

“It's very hit or miss,” Wright said, 'For instance I have customers come in one week and say they didn't find anything and the next week they'll be jumping up and down because they hit the jackpot.”

Except for a brief “hump,” as Wright refers to it, in 2008 when the economy took a downturn, business has been good. This is largely due to Wright's enthusiastic not just with the business but everything in which she is involved. She's a dedicated mother and wife, and not only encourages her two sons — Owen and Shane — with their sporting events but also volunteers to coach the Stillwater School's fifth-grade girls' basketball team.

That's right, girls. Wright doesn't have her own kids on the team but says, “I love the sport of basketball and coaching the girls gives me some 'girl time.'” Besides her boys, who help such as they can with the business, Wright's wind beneath her wings is her husband, Joe.

“He helps me move things around and does a lot with the store,” she said. Things are going so well, in fact, that the Wrights are looking to open a second location in the spring and are polling their customers about a location. She said they are looking at Milford, Franklink or Byram.

The business' success is also largely due to good employees, Wright added. She gives a lot of credit to her assistant manager, Joyce Edison, who has been with her for the past seven years. “She's really great,” Wright said. Edison, who hails from Milford, Pa., helps out and runs the store when Wright can't be there. Edison's daughters, Carly and Kelly, also help out.

“I've been through a lot of employees and it's very hard to find good people these days. It's a sad comment on the work ethic that people want to call their own hours and such,' she said, “Right now I'm at a point where I've found great employees who do the job well and that's good for everyone.” Another integral, long-time employee is Wright's driver, Frank Maraski who does her pick ups and deliveries.

With the holidays fast approaching, Wright said she expects a lot of business.

“Once people find out about us, they're back again and again,” she said, “There aren't any club stores in the area and out business offers great club-like bargains but without the membership fee.”

Because inventory is constantly changing, follow the business' Facebook to see what's new in stock.