Strohl ready for Scrapbook Day

Strohl Appliance and Electronics is unique to Jay County. Besides finding home appliances and electronics in the Portland store, patrons can also find scrapbook supplies.
Debi Gillespie, who runs the store with her parents Hugh and Alice Strohl, said she incorporated scrapbooking into the store in 2004, and it’s continued to grow during the last 10 years.
“We needed to get young people in and women,” she said. “I liked it. I thought it would broaden our base.
“You know, not everyday you need a refrigerator, but you could always use scrapbooking.”
And now is the perfect time to visit the store, as it offers supplies unique to Jay County’s prom, graduation-themed scrapbook supplies and handmade invitations and thank you cards, Gillespie said.
Gillespie’s grandfather opened the store in 1940 in the building that now houses Aker-Taylor plumbing.
In 1966, the family-owned business moved to its current address at 1513 N. Meridian St., and in 1981, the store added Radio Shack.
Gillespie said she started with a very small scrapbook selection in a corner of the store. Now she offers more than 30,000 sheets of paper, 150 types of albums, countless stickers and diecuts, and the scrapbook section takes up most of the front half of the store.
To be unique and appealing to Jay County residents, the store offers many supplies that are unique to the county.
Each elementary and middle school has some type of supplies unique to the school. There are also many Jay County High School supplies.
If customers are looking for 4-H and Future Farmers of America scapbook supplies, they can find it at Strohl.
“The things you can’t find anywhere else, that’s what we want.”
And Gillespie spends time custom-making supplies and invitations.
“My niche has been I do custom things,” she said. “That way, I stay away from big box stores because I don’t want to compete with them.”
Offering hand-made wedding invitations is a newer service the store offers.
“Our whole thing is, if you come in with an idea, we can put it together,” said Gillespie.
National Scrapbook Day is May 3, and the store will be celebrating.
On May 2 and May 3, the store is offering 40 percent off paper and albums.
It’s also hosting a scrapbooking day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 3.
Those who would like to scrapbook can bring their supplies and spend a day with others who enjoy the hobby and receive any help they may need.
The cost is $15, and snacks and a meal will be provided. To participate, contact Gillespie at 726-7136.
“If you’ve never scrapped, that’s OK. If you’re a seasoned scrapper, that’s OK. But if you want to do it and you just don’t know how, come in and see us,” Gillespie said.
The store is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.
“I don’t want people to think all we sell is big refrigerators,” she said. “I just want people to come in and see us.”[[In-content Ad]]