Last night we had our staff Christmas party at my mom’s condo. We were 35 people this year – pretty overwhelming, considering how much has changed over the years. I can remember not so long ago when there were just six of us at a restaurant!

I felt full of gratitude as I looked around at all those people and realized there wasn’t an Au Lit employee that I don’t love – even the newest additions. What a good feeling to have created this family at our company. Pardon the holiday schmaltz, but we really are a family at Au Lit. Just ask anyone who was there! (Oh sure, the love vibes were fuelled by lots of alcohol, but they’re still genuine!)

So, to Pam, Dale, Lisa, the Silver Fox (who I miss soooo much), Linda, Kath, Bonnie L, Janette, Teri, Sandy, Momen, Robbie, Mark, Ryan, Roxy, Della, Dana, Carol, Jess, Julie P., Alia, Kelly, Julie B, and you too Jer (an honorary nod at least,) you really are the best staff an employer could hope to attract. Thank you for your hard work and your loyalty and your quirks and your support. Here’s to a fun and prosperous 2009. Ho ho ho & happy holidays!!! (Sorry about all the red-eyes…)

The LIV gals (+ Jessie)

Ry, the Warehouse Guy

Au Lit beauties, Lisa + Kath

Mig + honorary Au Lit guy, Jer

Sorry Jule...

She's not mine! She belongs to my admin asst, Della

Cousin Rena + part-time LIV gal

The men-folk (+ Julie)

Robbie + Mark...Frenemies?

Best friends

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

Tis the season to be…somber? The pouring rain isn’t helping, but it’s getting harder and harder to bury our heads in the “snow” and pretend this economic situation is going away. I am typically a very optmistic person, but in recent days, even I have begun to wonder how we are going to sustain the momentum in our stores and rejuvinate our customers’ enthusiasm for shopping.

We are constantly brainstorming on this subect and thank goodness we have my mom at the helm. For anyone old enough to remember the recession of the late eighties, Peggy successfully navigated Au Lit through some very grim times in Montreal, not only surviving that economic crisis twenty years ago, but going on to grow the company and thrive in its aftermath. That’s what we’re hoping for again.

For now, we have decided to do something we’ve never done before: launch a huge Holiday Sale three weeks before our semi-annual January White Sale. In addition to the festivities we’ve been offering throughout December – hot cocoa + treats, gift with purchases over $100 – you will now be able to save major cash on your holiday shopping. Everything in the store is on sale. That means all the good stuff. Clothing, books, jammies, linens, furniture…

It’s still early in the month. Our goal is to help revitalize the festive spirit of this season. Enough Bah Humbug! We are all in this together. We hope you will keep investing in quality.
HAPPY SHOPPING!

The Holiday Collection

The Holiday Collection

The holiday season is underway…24 days till Christmas and 20 days till Hannuka! I think it is a great time to introduce what heretofore shall be known as the LIV Holiday Gift Round-up, (which is another way of saying my favourite gift ideas of the season.) And if there’s anything in this round-up that you LOVE and want to buy, print page 1 of this blog entry, bring it in to LIV, and we’ll give you 25% off your favourite product! (But you’ve got to bring the print-out!!)

Without further ado, I present the 2008 gift round-up:

VASES, CANDLES, TRAYS + FRAMES BY FRINGE

SET OF 4 CANDLES BY FRINGE

HOLIDAY PEAR SOAPS BY GIANNA ROSE

MONOGRAMMED CUSHION - available in all colours within one week

JEWELLRY BY DOGEARED

JEWELLRY BY DOGEARED

LITTLE BLACK DRESS PLATE SET

DISTINCTIVE BOOKS

JAMMIES BY SCANTY

SET OF FLORAL CANDLES BY FRINGE

This is just a yummy sampling of what you’ll find at LIV this season. Come and check it out. You won’t be disappointed! And every weekend in December we’ll be serving hot cocoa and treats, giving out little gifts with purchases, blasting the holiday tunes and marking down some of our clothes up to 50% off in prep for Boxing Day. HAPPY SHOPPING!!