Furniture, incense, books, toys, and a piano repurposed as a rack for wine glasses. If you can think of it, Sarah Schafer probably has it at Imaginarium Super Store in Omaha, Nebraska. It’s packed to the brim with retro housewares, vintage clothes, and a popular New Age section for those interested in dabbling in the alternative. However, even the store that has everything needs an inventory refresh every now and then. Enter Wish Wholesale!
Her customers have a taste for flowy silhouettes and bright gemstones. So Schafer sources clothes and jewelry from Wish Wholesale to fill out the New Age section of her shop. As a fun twist, Sarah has repurposed a vintage cigarette vending machine into a lung-friendly jewelry shopping experience. For $1.25, customers can pull a lever and treat themselves to one of Wish’s bestselling baubles.
Imaginarium has been a Wish Local participating store since October 2019 and takes advantage of all programs including Ship to Store, Sell on Wish, and Wish Wholesale.
So far, Wish Local has been hugely beneficial to the store owners. Sarah estimates that half of Wish shoppers who come to collect packages will stay to look around the store. About 30% of the new foot traffic will make a purchase. Schafer advertises her affiliation with Wish Local with store signs, social media, and signs up new customers into an Imaginarium loyalty program that offers discounts and cash back to repeat shoppers.
Schafer and her husband took over ownership of the brick-and-mortar retail space about a year and a half ago. Previously, they had been managers at the company. When the shop went up for sale, they jumped at the chance to realize their entrepreneurial dreams. They’ve made some interesting changes to the already unique space. Last year, they built a stage so Omaha locals could host unconventional themed weddings. Sarah became ordained and has so far officiated half a dozen weddings including a spooky Elvira-themed Halloween wedding. Now she hopes to offer the space with live video streaming as a way for customers to have their dream wedding while also keeping guests socially distant and safely at home.
Despite some Covid-related setbacks, the sprawling superstore has reopened with health-conscious adaptations like Curbside Pickup and Wish Local Delivery. Schafer notes that sheltering in place has inspired people to redecorate their homes, and try their hand at refurbishing. She explains that furniture sales have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic, and she’s pleased to supply her shoppers with one-of-a-kind pieces.
Imaginarium is a rich community of artists and self-proclaimed oddballs. In addition to her own merchandise, the store hosts local craftsmen, including one popular artist who makes lamps out of doll heads and animal bones. When asked to name the craziest thing she has in the store, Sarah boasts about a taxidermy fish who is about to turn 100 years old!
Like Imaginarium, Wish is also a marketplace that celebrates the offbeat. As such, Imaginarium Super Store and Wish Local are a match made in quirky heaven.
