Author Archives: Mama Goose

It’s hard to believe it’s our last week at 430 W. State Street! We’re so excited for our next chapter, and can’t wait to see you in our new space with you soon! Moving is a lot of work, so with that in mind…

We’re Having a Moving Sale!

25 % OFF non-clothing used items!

This includes strollers, baby carriers, high chairs, swings, shoes, and much more! This even includes consignment items that rarely go on sale Come take advantage of these savings while you can – our last day in this location is this Saturday, September 26!

Items NOT included in this sale are masks, clothing, outerwear, winter boots, and new products.

Extending Consignment Periods

We want to be sure we’re taking care of our customers and consignors as best we can during this transition. For that reason we are extending all consignment periods until November 1st!

What does this mean for you? For consignors, this means we’ll have more time to sell your items when we reopen in our new location. For customers, it means we’ll have a lot of great items to pick from right away when we reopen! Talk about a win-win!

We do understand that some people may have extenuating circumstances, so if you need to pick up your items before November 1 please give us a call. We’ll be happy to make other arrangements with you.
You can reach us at 607-216-7851.

We have enjoyed your eager anticipation! We are excited to announce that we’ll be moving just a few blocks away at the end of this month! We’ll be taking up residency at Clinton Plaza, with wonderful neighbors such as the Child Development Council and Finger Lakes Toy Library. There is LOTS of free parking right outside our doors, and the area will have more parking soon, after a minor parking reconstruction and landscaping project is completed. The location is also easily walkable and there’s a bus stop right in front. We’re working on exciting things for the future too, like CSA share pick-up, a community drop spot, and more! Please see the Q&A for more details below.

Jillian’s Drawers & Mama Goose Merger Q&A

Q: What will the new location be like? Is Mama Goose being absorbed by Jillian’s Drawers? 
A: Both stores will maintain an identity, slightly redefined, and both will be moving to a new location at 609 West Clinton St.! In the new location they will exist side by side, yet be open to each other. Jillian’s Drawers will embrace an identity as the baby store, supporting new parents from pregnancy and birth through approximately age 18 months. The Jillian’s Drawers side will contain areas for maternity, nursing, sleep, cloth diapers, babywearing, infant toys, and clothing. The Mama Goose side will offer all the things Mama’s need for their goslings, from toddlers up to teens! There will be areas for clothing over size 18 months (up to size 14), toys & games, books, shoes, outdoor wear/gear, dress up, reusable lunch/home goods, and more!

Q: When are you moving?
A: We are working on moving Mama Goose by the end of September and Jillian’s Drawers shortly after. We will announce firmer dates as soon as we can. There will be a window of time when each store stops buying used items and closes for a short time while we move and get set up in our new location. We’ll announce that when the time is right as well.

Q: Can I use my store credit at both stores?
A: Yes, however not until we have both stores on the same system. You will be able to use store credit at both stores once they are moved to the new location. 

Q: I have a gift certificate for one of these stores? Will it be valid at either one?
A: Once both stores are in the same location, you will be able to use your gift certificate at either location! Previously issued gift certificates will be honored. 

Q: Will buying policies/structure change?
A: We are working on evaluating both stores’ processes of buying used items and will revise our policies as we reopen in the new location. We would love your feedback!

Q: Will I see the same great Mama Goose staff?
A: Yes! Store managers and sales associates specific to Mama Goose store have come onboard for this new chapter. 

Q: Will the Community Room aspect of Jillian’s Drawers still be a part of this new version?
A: Yes! Our new location has a large room that will open as a community space once deemed safe. We plan to hold classes, meetups/support groups, playgroups, host birthday parties, and have this space available for rent once the time is right. We anticipate this reopening sometime in 2021.

Take our survey and be entered to win a $50 gift certificate!

We want to do our best to create the most amazing hub for our community! We’d love your feedback about these two stores and how we can best serve you moving forward. ​​​​​​​

A Note from Store Owner, Kelly Moreland:
Hello, Ithaca Families! I am very happy to be sharing this news with you. Mama Goose is about to change ownership to Kelly Serbonich, owner of Jillian’s Drawers and Parenting Naturally, LLC.
Kelly S. has a super exciting vision and plan to incorporate Mama Goose and Jillian’s Drawers into a one-stop shopping and trading hub for Ithaca families. Both stores will operate as they are now, in their current locations for another month or so, but the plan is to move them to a fabulous downtown storefront where they can be side by side and yes, there will be lots of easy parking! The location will be announced soon, but both Kelly S. and I feel great about it and we think you will too.

What will happen to your Store Credit under the new
ownership?
Though Mama Goose is changing ownership and, eventually, locations, your Mama Goose Store Credit will continue to be honored under the new ownership, just as it always has been.
One small change around here is we have all gotten in the habit of referring to me as “Kelly M” and Kelly Serbonich as “Kelly S”, but everything else is pretty much business as usual! You will be served by all the same, familiar team members including Store Manager Rebeka and Assistant Manager, Anya and we will all work together to make sure the transition is as seamless as possible for you.

Why am I selling Mama Goose?
I have been honored to be the owner of Mama Goose for sixteen and a half years.
My lil’ goslings were 1 & 4 when I opened Mama Goose in December 2003 (with co-founder Michelle Stuhr) and it is clear to me the time has come for me to pass the mantle. I could not be happier with this transition plan which I regard as a win-win for Kelly S, the team (A.K.A. The Geese at the Goose) and for Ithaca families

There is one policy change we need to make this week:
Beginning August 27th, we will not be able to transfer your Store Credit between Mama Goose & Mimi’s Attic.
If you wish to transfer your Mama Goose Store Credit to Mimi’s Attic (or vice versa) it’s important that you do so by Wednesday, August 26th. I apologize for this change as I know many of you enjoy transferring store credit back and forth between the two stores. If you are happy with where your store credit is, there is nothing you need to do.

Thank you, once again, for your commitment to local business and sustainability and for your part in helping Mama Goose thrive and serve Ithaca for years to come. 

Warmly,
Kelly Moreland & the Geese at the Goose

• 

Mama Goose & Mimi’s Attic are partnering with Catholic Charities Tompkins/Tioga to collect donated new school supplies for families in need. All donated items will go to Catholic Charities’ Backpack Giveaway Program.School Supplies Needed:
Backpacks
Binders
Notebooks
Folders
Pens
Pencils
Crayons

Drop off new school supplies during store hours Mama Goose or Mimi’s Attic August 15-29. For each item you donate, you will receive one raffle ticket for a $50 gift certificate to Mama Goose or Mimi’s Attic!

Such an important year to help students out and brighten their day. Please donate if you are able!

If you would like to receive school supplies for your child, please contact Catholic Charities and submit your request no later than 4:30 pm August 28, 2020 by mail or calling our Ithaca office at 607-272-5062 ext. 27 (you will answer questions on their answering machine). Items will be available for pick up after September 4, 2020.

Hey, Ithaca Families!

We hope you and your loved ones healthy and well. We are now in Phase 2 of NYS Forward and are happy to announce that we are ready to welcome you back into the store on June 11! There are lots of significant changes and caveats to this re-opening, so please read on carefully and keep an eye on our website for future updates. 

When we started working on our re-opening plan, it became clear to the team that another issue was at the forefront of our minds. Our support of BLM and the fight against systematic racial injustice isn’t new, but we’ve been asking ourselves how we can be more intentional as a small business. We feel strongly that simply saying “Black Lives Matter” isn’t enough. Below are some of the things we are doing as a company to be better allies: 

• Prioritize selling the products of local BIPOC artists and artisans. Please apply HERE to our Local Maker Program. This project started at Mimi’s Attic but has grown to include Mama Goose too. 
• Reaching out to local, black-owned businesses to see how we can drive business towards them through partnerships and collaborations. 
• Donate 10% of our profits from June 12-17 to programs that provide services and support to our local BIPOC community. Funds will be donated to Southside Community Center. 
• Encouraging discussion, activism and education amongst our staff by providing articles and resources about diversity, racial justice and more. 

Beginning June 11, we are once again open for in-store shopping! Here’s how it will work:  

• For now, hour business hours are Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5. All staff and customers over the age of 2, are required to wear a mask inside at all times. The masks can be cloth, but must cover the nose and mouth. 
• The number of customers in the store will be limited to no more than half of our legal maximum occupancy, including children over the age of 2. 
• If you arrive at the store, and it is at capacity, we will kindly ask for your phone number and that you wait outside or in your car. Then, we will call you as soon as a spot opens up.(Alternatively, you are welcome to call us when you first arrive and we will let you know if we are at capacity or not). 
• With this in mind, please try to limit the number of “non-shoppers” who accompany you.
• For the time being, we have removed our toys from the shelves and play areas (sorry, lil’ goslings!) and are working to get them up on Shopify for you to purchase that way. 
• All customers and staff are asked to remain at least 6 feet away from each other unless separated by a plexi barrier. 
• We will be wiping down door handles and high-use surfaces frequently throughout the day. 

You can still shop with us by phone, email, or through social media! Give us a call or shoot us a message to get started. You will purchase your items over the phone and we can meet you at the door with your purchased items. 

If you have items you would like to consign or sell, please call us at 607-269-0600 and make an appointment. We are not able to accept walk-ins at this time. We are taking in merchandise very selectively so that we can maximize our resources of time and money on merchandise that is in demand now and will move quickly. Being selective and buying by appointment only will also help pace our intake in a way that will accommodate our new systems of quarantining incoming merchandise for at least 24 hours before we process it and move it to the sales floor. For more information about what we are buying and consigning, click HERE. 

We still have a lot of great spring merchandise in stock, but some sizes are a bit “thin” because we haven’t been taking in new merchandise for the last three months. Please take advantage of the coupon below to make the most of your visit and load up on what we have!  Rest assured, our racks will get fuller in the coming weeks!

All sales are final except shoes and baby equipment, which must be returned within 7 days of purchase (sooner is better).
Thank you for your understanding.

We have temporarily ceased all business activity, including our remote shopping, as of the end of day March 20, 2020. We will revisit this decision in two weeks and reach out to you via social media and our email blasts. If you are not already receiving emails from us, please join our mailing list (to the right) so that you can receive updates from us in the coming weeks.

Thank you for staying connected with us during this time of change, and helping us get our online shopping launched. We feel optimistic about the systems we created to continue to serve you remotely (online and over the phone) and will strive to get that up and running again when we feel it is safe for our staff to do so.

From all of the Geese at the Goose, we wish you and yours safety and well-being.

Attn: Consignors

You should receive an email from us with the following information about possible questions you may have for us now that we have closed for business for the time being:

Q: Can Mama Goose extend my consignment period?

A: Yes. Your consignment contract will be on pause for the next two weeks. We will get in touch with you at that time and update you on your options. 

Q: Can I get my item/s back now?

Yes, we will be conducting business until 4pm Friday 3/20/20. If you call us, we can make arrangements for you to pick up your item/s from one of our parking lots. There will be no person-to person contact at that juncture, so please bring someone to help you load your item/s into your vehicle if they are large.

Q: If I can’t pick up my item/s by the end of the day on Friday March 2oth, can I pick them up in 2 weeks?

Yes, if permitted, we will work with you to make your items available for pick up. 

Q: I am expecting a payment for something that has sold. 

A:  We will be sending checks to consignors who have had all their items sell (just like usual).    If all your items haven’t sold, you may request a check by 3pm Friday, March 20th to be put in the mail. Any requests not received by that time will not be able to be honored due to a limited number of hours before our staff can no longer report to work. 

Q: Will you be buying and consigning again?

We will keep you apprised (via our website, email blasts and social media) when we begin to take in consignment items again.

Like you, we are striving to respond to the changing events of the day the best way we know how and as rapidly as possible.

Beginning March 18th, our stores will be temporarily closed to the public, but all of our merchandise is available for purchase online and over the phone. Please take a few minutes to read about all of our new REMOTE SHOPPING OPTIONS which we hope will meet your shopping needs while our sales floors are closed. These measures will help us in the following ways:

•  Our skeleton crew can focus on serving you online and over the phone.
•  Less overhead will help us conserve our resources so that we can support our remaining staff as much as possible.
• We will be supporting Ithaca’s mission to “flatten the curve” by exercising social distancing and help our health system fortify their resources and systems.

Sellers and Consignors
We are not buying and consigning merchandise at this time. Consignors, thank you for trusting your merchandise with us. We will continue to work to sell your items for you as swiftly as we can.  We are sending a direct email communication to all current consignors which will answer questions you may have and outline our options for proceeding together in this unchartered territory. To allay any immediate concerns, please know that you are welcome to come pick up your items at any time. Just call us and we can bring your items out to your car for you. All payments for sold items will be by check and will be sent to you by mail. If you have items you would like to consign with us, and think they would sell in the current climate, please call us or email us (with photo) and we will add you to our list of people to contact when we are taking in consignment items again. 

Shoppers
Please check out all of our new Remote Shopping Options and give these new systems a whirl! This is a great way to meet some of your shopping needs in a safe and efficient way and of course,  keep supporting local business and your community. 

As fast as we usually work to get our new merchandise on the sales floor, we will now work that hard to get our merchandise posted online for you. We will also be available by phone as much as possible for phone orders and personal shopping. Please stay tuned as we update the hours we will be in the store and available for these services. 

Thank you for supporting Mama Goose & Mimi’s Attic, and all of Ithaca’s locally-owned stores.

Despite the uncertainty we’re all feeling right now, we’re excited to offer you some new remote shopping options both online and over the phone.

1. Mama’s new Shopify page

Add items to your cart and checkout on the Shopify website. We will be adding clothes in all sizes as well as books, toys, games and puzzles. We’ll strive to get this populated as fast as we can. Visit our page at mama-goose-llc.myshopify.com

2. Mama’s Facebook page

See something you like? Call us and order over the phone. Visit facebook.com/mamagooseithaca.

3. Mama’s Instagram page

See something you like? Call us and order over the phone. Visit instagram.com/mamagooseithaca

4. Mama’s personal shopping service

Call us, tell us what you want, we will gather it, communicate with you as needed with photos and ring you out over the phone. This includes new and used products.

To make purchases over the phone, call us at (607)269-0600

Pick-up at the store

All Mama online purchases can be picked up at the store for free. Simply call us, schedule a time for pick-up and we will bring the items out to you or you can pick them up at our convenient side door on Corn Street.

For now, all sales will be final until further notice. Thank you for understanding this change in policy.

Hello, Ithaca Families!

We wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the role we play as a community gathering and shopping place, and address some concerns you may be having regarding such spaces. The health and well-being of our customers is always a priority, but especially so now. We are closely monitoring COVID-19 updates from Tompkins County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the NYS Health Department. As recommended, we have tentative contingency plans in place for various scenarios and are revisiting them and meeting about them daily.

Our goal, as always,  is to spread the love not the germs!

Consignors Thank you for consigning with us and trusting us with your items. We will stay in close contact with you about your consigned items should anything in our procedures need to change. As always, if we offer storewide sales and discounts, that never affects your consignment payouts. We would be similarly conscientious about any unexpected variables that might affect your consignment timeline.

The Mama Team We are committed to taking care of our team. We are in continual communication to offer guidance and information so they can keep themselves and their families safe. We’re encouraging sick team members to stay home to keep the rest of the staff and our customers safe and healthy. We are also aware that some people may not feel comfortable shaking hands or having other physical contact at this time, and will gladly offer and accept bows, waves, grins, and jazz hands in lieu of a handshake.

xoxo Mama