News and Press Releases

1/9/12

COUNTY CHILDREN'S GROUPS RECEIVE HELP FROM LEARNING STORE

Local educational retailer, Launching Success Learning Store, reported $7,100 in gifts this past year to 48 area non-profits who serve children.  A large portion of these donations were support for fund-raising auctions. Those who received more substantial in-kind contributions from the store included Rebound of Whatcom County, The Firs, Blue Skies for Children, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington.

This year the store held 9 elementary school shopping fundraisers, called “Parent Shopping Nights” where a portion of the sales are given back to the schools.  Launching Success also participates in 9 local Scrip programs, donating a portion of the sales back to those schools.

During the holidays the store’s staff wrapped Christmas gifts for donations and raised $126 for The Hope Center, based in Lynden.  Other special projects included educational game collection for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Washington and a holiday craft sale to benefit Blue Skies for Children.

Again this year, over $1,000 dollars in educational materials from Launching Success were sent to village schools in Kenya through Whatcom County-based programs Project Education and Tembo Education Project that assist with school development in Africa.

Launching Success Learning Store has a mission to help provide children in our community with the best tools for learning, according to store owner Dan Sanford.  “Our entire team welcomes the chance to help these many schools and non-profit organizations who share similar goals.”

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, at www.facebook.com/launchingSuccess, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

12/5/11

GAME DRIVE A BIG SUCCESS FOR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS “SCHOOL BUDDIES” PROGRAM

Launching Success Learning Store hosted a game drive in October to collect new and gently used games for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Washington’s School-based Mentoring Program.  Over 40 board games were donated by generous community supporters.

The Big Brothers and Big Sisters who participate in the School Buddies program, located in 9 Bellingham schools, spend one hour per week at the child’s school, playing games, shooting hoops, or helping with homework. This innovative program that encourages activities with a socio-emotional focus is shown to have a great academic impact of high quality and long duration.

“We are so excited to receive these games as we head into the winter months.  This will ensure we have enough games at each of our schools. Playing games is more than just fun or educational, it is a way to form a relationship.” said Bliss Goldstein, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Washington.

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington’s largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents and is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, at www.facebook.com/LaunchingSuccess or call them at 360-527-2641.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Washington is the largest mentoring organization in Northwest Washington. Administrative offices are located at 4204 Meridian Suite 101, Bellingham, Washington.  Find them online at www.bbbs-nw.org, www.facebook.com/bbbsnwwa or call them at 360-671-6400.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.


11/16/11

EDUCATION STORE HOLDS OPEN HOUSE TO HELP NON-PROFITS

Launching Success Learning Store is kicking off the holiday season with an Open House that benefits three local non-profits on Saturday, November 19th, from noon – 4 pm.

In keeping with the owners’ strong commitment to children, 10% of all sales during the event will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters, Blue Skies for Children, and The Firs for all the work they do to support our children.

The Angel Tree from Project Hope is also up and available if you want to make a local child’s holiday just a little brighter.  Refreshments will be served.

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents. The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview. Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, at www.facebook.com/launchingsuccess, or call them at 360-527-2641. Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

10/25/11

NEIGHBORHOOD TOY STORE DAY OFFERS FAMILY FUN IN BELLINGHAM

Toy demonstrations, games, and prizes are being offered to area families in
observance of Neighborhood Toy Store Day on November 12th at Fairhaven Toy
Garden and Launching Success Learning Store.

As a reminder of the important role that local stores play in our
communities, the day is being promoted by the American Specialty Toy
Retailing Association (ASTRA) stores and will be celebrated in communities
across the nation.

At Launching Success Learning Store off Meridian Street, children will be
treated to demonstrations of remote control helicopters and new games
selected from ASTRA's “Best Toys for Kids” Award list.  Activity kits provided
by the company, Be Amazing, will be shown as well as LEGO robots created by
a robotics trainer from local company Bricks and Beyond.

Door prizes will be given out. Families will also be able to select an
"angel" if they wish to prepare a gift bag of food and toys for needy
children in Whatcom County before the holidays. Join us from noon -  4pm.

At Fairhaven Toy Garden we invite you to come play with us from 2:00-6:00 pm!

You can learn to juggle from Kyle, help build a remote controlled machine from a

Thames and Kosmos kit, try fun activities from Plan Toys and Wikki Stix, play games,

eat cookies, and win great prizes. You will also have an opportunity to help a local charity,

Blue Skies for Children.

Dan Sanford, co-owner of Launching Success Learning store, says that using
neighborhood stores increases consumer choices and preserves local jobs and
helps local charities.  "Research shows that for every $100 spent in locally
owned stores, $68 returns to the community in the form of taxes, salaries,
contributions, and free programming.  In contrast only $43 returns to the
community when consumers shop at national chain stores", cited Dan.  "Of
course, little comes back to our area when using national internet sales
providers."

Folks who remember the magical feeling of shopping in their neighborhood toy
store as a child can rekindle that experience for their own children during
this fun-packed day.  For more information see the websites for complete
list of activities and times at www.launchingsucces.com or
www.fairhaventoygarden.com.

10/21/11

JAMES ROBERTSON JOINS LAUNCHING SUCCESS LEARNING STORE

James Robertson has joined Launching Success as Customer Service and Sales Lead. He comes to us from Silverdale where he worked at a major bookstore.  “My passion has always been the love of learning and helping people so being at Launching Success is the perfect place for me”, said James.

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, at www.facebook.com/launchingsuccess, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

10/10/11

EDUCATION STORE SNAPS INTO LEGOS®

Launching Success Learning Store has joined the ranks as one of very few specialty toy stores in the Pacific Northwest to be designated as a principle distributor of the newest categories of LEGOS®.

In addition to having been an authorized reseller of LEGO® Education Division products, such as Duplo® and City®, Launching Success in now able to carry additional varieties of LEGO® including Mindstorms®, Creator®, and Technic®.  Many of these products are of interest to older children and adults for advanced hobby and mechanics play.  Launching Success also offers LEGO® by the scoop for customers who wish to individually select the pieces they want.

“We have lined up for this authorization and we have built our LEGO® constituents steadily,” explains store owner Barbara Sanford.  “We are celebrating this new ability to meet the increased customer demand which is growing more diverse and more sophisticated.”

In recent years, through partnership with local company, Bricks and Beyond, the store has been hosting young child robotics classes using LEGO® brand products and LEGO® - inspired computer software.  Other instructional organizations outside of Whatcom County have been using Launching Success Learning Store as a source for its LEGO® brand robotics supplies.

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington’s largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents and is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview in Bellingham.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, at www.facebook.com/LaunchingSuccess or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

9/8/11

LAUNCHING SUCCESS SPONSORS GAME DRIVE FOR BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS “SCHOOL BUDDIES” PROGRAM

A drive to provide new and gently used games for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Washington’s School-based Mentoring Program is being sponsored by Launching Success Learning Store.

The Game Drive is being conducted October 3 – 29th at Launching Success.  Donations of new and gently used games may be dropped off at Launching Success between 10 am and 6 pm Monday through Saturday.  As an incentive, people who donate a game may purchase a new game at Launching Success for 10% off retail.

The Big Brothers and Big Sisters participating in the School Buddies program spend one hour per week at the child’s school, playing games, shooting hoops, or helping with homework. This innovative program that encourages activities with a socio-emotional focus is shown to have a great academic impact of high quality and long duration.

“Having enough games at the schools for our School Buddies program makes all the difference in the quality of the relationships between our Bigs and our Littles,” said Bliss Goldstein, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Washington.  “It also helps us expand the program into other schools so we can serve more of our children.”

Some examples of games with educational merit are Cadoo, Connect 4, Scrabble Junior, Uno, Farkel, and Blokus.

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington’s largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents and is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, at www.facebook.com/LaunchingSuccess or call them at 360-527-2641.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of NW Washington is the largest mentoring organization in Northwest Washington, serving over 400 children in two counties. Administrative offices are located at 4204 Meridian Suite 101, Bellingham, Washington. Find them online at www.bbbs-nw.org, www.facebook.com/bbbsnwwa or call them at 360-671-6400.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

4/28/11

TEACHERS HONORED AT FUN DAY AT LEARNING STORE

Area teachers will be honored with gifts and demonstrations during Launching Success Learning Store’s annual Teacher Appreciation Day, Saturday, May 14th.  This is the fifth year running for this event which offers gift coupons, new product demonstrations and special displays to help teachers with their classrooms.

The first 50 people to enter the door at 10 am receive bags chockfull of various gifts from the store and from suppliers.  There will be grand prize drawings for a sand table, set of children’s chairs, or $100 store gift certificate.  Additionally, door prizes will be given away every 20 minutes throughout the celebration.  Refreshments will be provided by Costco and Starbucks.   Free massages will be provided by Blue Heron Massage (Tom Gurney) and Mary Kay will provide free products to take home.

The event, which runs from 10 am. to 3 pm, honors all who teach, including home schooling parents as well as classroom teachers.  The general public is also invited to join the celebration.

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington’s largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents and is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, www.facebook.com/LaunchingSuccess, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

4/20/11

STORE OFFICIALS ATTEND NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL SUPPLY CONFERENCE

Launching Success Learning Store's chief buyer, Jen Zimmermann, and store owner, Barbara Sanford, recently participated in the eductaional industry's largest national convention in San Antonio, Texas.  During the event, the two attended numerous workshops related to retail management strategies, display and marketing, and product trends in addition to placing orders for the newest classroom and general education materials.  The conference is organized by the National School Supply and Education Association and included vendors from over 400 companies.  Participation by the Bellingham representatives afforded them a chance to meet with Launching Success' business partners, The Dallas Pen Coproration, and representatives from companies such as Educational Insights, Learning Resources, Scholastic, Evan-Moor, Pacon, Trend, and a wide variety of others.

Launching Success Learning Store has Nothrwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com or www.facebook.com/LaunchingSuccess, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

 

4/17/11

LAUNCHING SUCCESS LEARNING STORE CELEBRATES 8 YEARS IN BUSINESS

After a year of extensive research into the needs of educators in our region, Launching Success Learning Store opened in May, 2003.  Dan and Barbara Sanford, co-owners, invite the public to join them and their staff in celebrating their 8th year in business.  Enjoy prizes and refreshments on Thursday, May 5th, between 4 and 7 pm at the store.

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, at www.facebook.com/LaunchingSuccess, or call 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

3/4/11

LAUNCHING SUCCESS FEATURED IN NATIONAL MAGAZINE

Launching Success Learning Store was featured in the February 2011 issue of Educational Dealer, the magazine of the school supply industry.

In the article, Dan and Barbara Sanford, who own and operate the business, shared their expertise in creating a locally owned educational supply store and then adapting to the marketplace during the past 10 years, growing despite the current economic times.

Co-owner Barbara Sanford said, “Dan and I were both pleased to be able to share what we have learned over the years to help other educational stores around the country.”

To read the article, go to http://eddealermagazine.com/readmore_03.php.

The oldest and most reliable source of industry information, Educational Dealer is a name that readers associate with quality information and valuable product ideas. Its interviews, news, retailing tips, reports on industry trends and helpful display ideas strike a winning balance that meets the needs of all dealers – from retailers and catalogers to resellers and online merchants. Find them online at http://eddealermagazine.com.

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington’s largest selection of educational materials, toys and games for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents and is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

2/2/11

SCIENCE FAIR FRENZY IN FULL FORCE

The season for science gear has arrived for many Whatcom County schools as countless children plan the best way to illustrate a scientific principle.  Mons and dads frequently get into the act helping in the treasure hunt for the various tools that make the presentation work.

Popular subjects for science fair projects this year relate to green energy, motorized transport, and robotics, reported by staff at Bellingham's Launching Success Learning Store.  "It is not surprising students would gravitate to these fields," explains store buyer Jen Zimmermann, "given President Obama's call for renewed American competitiveness in these areas."

Kids began snapping up science fair equipment as early as December this year, according to Zimmermann.  "Folks were looking for solar electrical systems, robotic machine parts, and items to complete electrical circuits.  Additionally, there has been early demad for insect farms, gears and pulleys, and microscope slides, and owl puke," she reported.  Sales in science supllies have been running 10 to 15% ahead of last year.

Launching Success anticipates the push for science each year at this time, stocking good quantities of Science Fair books and standard presentation boards.  The store offers volume discounts for presentation boards to parent/teacher organizations.

"We love to see the children come in with their checklist of components at an early stage," Zimmermann said.  "It is tougher to help the anxious mom or dad who is in a desperate, last minute search for rare or exotic items but we do our best to find a solution or steer them into a modified display."

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents and is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.launchingsuccess.com, on facebook, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

1/25/11

ZIMMERMANN JOINS LAUNCHING SUCCESS LEARNING STORE


Jen Zimmermann has joined Launching Success as Principle Buyer. She is a graduate of Western Washington University in elementary education, a former teacher of kindergarten and first grade, and currently a Sunday School director as well.

"It's important to me that we have the right teaching tools available to make sure our children get the best education possible", stated Zimmermann.

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com, at www.facebook.com/launchingsuccess, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

 

 

1/25/11

CHILDREN DIVE INTO ROBOTICS USING SNAP BLOCKS AT LAUNCHING SUCCESS

While Lego bricks has been a popular play toy for decades, a new twist has kids energized in a new way.  Migrating ideas from Vancouver, Canada, a local team of instructors initiated robotics using snap blocs or "bricks"  through workshops for young children late last spring.

Children starting at age 7 for the classes, learn to integrate sensors and motors while using a computer program to build a working model.  “We try to keep our numbers to eight participants at a time at two levels,” according to instructor Kimberly Gustafson, who calls her organization, “Bricks and Beyond.”

Gustafson, whose own son, Carver, is also crazy over robotics, got her initial attending adult workshops from Gateways International Robotics School in British Columbia.  She now partners with educator and graduate student Beth Williams to provide sessions located at Launching Success Learning Store in Bellingham.

Already Bricks and Beyond has held summer and fall programs and is slated to start its next session Saturday, January 29th, from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m.  Other mid-week and advanced sessions are scheduled for later in the spring.

Equipment is provided for attendees while they experiment but products to take and play with at home are purchased at Launching Success Learning Store, which is at 133 Prince Avenue in Bellingham.  The store has substantially boosted its inventory in robotics and Lego gear over the past year, according to store owner and buyer Barbara Sanford.  “We have to hustle to keep up with local demand and the huge interest in these products from our Canadian customers,” she reported.

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com or www.facebook.com/launchingsuccess,  or call them at 360-527-2641.

1/24/11

LAUNCHING SUCCESS BUMPS UP DONATIONS PROGRAM

Local organizations that help children got an extra boost this past year by larger than usual contributions by Launching Success Learning Store.  The store’s 2010 giving program included a total of $7,360 to 60 different institutions including public and private schools, family assistance agencies, and clubs that help children.

“All but a few of the donations were for Whatcom County groups,” according to store spokesman Dan Sanford.  “An additional 17 organizations joined the list of recipients in 2010 for funds that grew by 50% from 2009.”

Major recipients this year included schools in the Bellingham, Ferndale, and Meridian School Districts, Agape House, and Boys and Girls Clubs.  Outside of the area large donations were sent to Southwest Alaska School District, Project Education in Kenya, and New Generation orphanage in Haiti.

While much of the contributions is in-kind for fund-raising auctions, this year Launching Success added an ambitious SCRIP program and a series of school “shopping nights”  to help parent/teacher organizations raise money for classrooms. The SCRIP program allows parents of school children to buy gift certificates from their parent/teacher organization.

During December employees of Launching Success collected donations for helping customers with gift wrapping--all to raise funds for Project Hope and the Christmas Angel giving program.

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com or www.facebook.com/launchingsuccess,  or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

1/13/11

LOCAL EDUCATION STORE ADDS E-BOOKS TO HELP TEACHERS

Teachers who need a last minute plan for their morning class can now download activity projects the night before using Launching Success Learning Store’s new e-books service.

The store recently contracted with Toronto-based Textron Corporation to provide electronic activity books on the store’s website.  Over 175 companies offer their books through the Launching Success and Textron partnership in all disciplines and grade levels.  A large number of these choice texts are also available as hard copy in the store at 133 Prince Avenue in Bellingham.

Reproducible texts have long been a staple teaching tool for classroom teachers.  Now teachers can access these items after school from their homes.  Launching Success carries over 1500 popular titles in classroom activity books.   In all cases they carry permission for reproduction.

“If we don’t have the book in stock,” store owner Barbara Sanford explains, “customers now have the option of purchasing it through our e-books connection without waiting for a custom order hard copy to arrive.”

“Teachers often need to work after hours, finding resources for their students to help them succeed, whether it’s reading comprehension or fraction concepts,” Sanford added. “Our e-book service means we can provide them with access 24 hours a day.”

To access e-books, go to www.launchingsuccess.com and then select “Shop Online” where you’ll find e-books.

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington’s largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.LaunchingSuccess.com or www.facebook.com/launchingsuccess, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

12/29/10

NIX JOINS LAUNCHING SUCCESS LEARNING STORE

Ginny Nix has joined Launching Success as a specialist in assistive technology for children with special needs.

Nix is currently attending WWU to complete her elementary education certification, majoring in English Literature and minoring in the Chinese language.  She currently has her credentials in English as a Second Language.

"I'm excited about Launching Success because, as a future teacher, I get to see the latest resources that I will get to use in my classroom," Nix stated.

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.launchingsuccess.com or www.facebook.com/launchingsuccess, or cal them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

12/27/10

EVELYN TURNER ELECTED TO SCCFC BOARD

Evelyn Turner, Community Outreach Manager for Launching Success Learning Store in Bellingham, was recently elected to the board of directors for the Skagit County Child and Family Consortium (SCCFC).

The SCCFC is a not-for-profit organization promoting and strengthing a seamless continuum of support and services to foster safe and healthy children and families within the Skagit County community.

Launching Success Learning Store serves Whatcom, Skagit, and Island Counties and has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents.  The store is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerveiw.  Find them online at www.launchingsuccess.com or www.facebook.com/launchingsuccess, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.

7/25/10

EARLY START COULD MEAN BUSY BACK-TO-SCHOOL SEASON FOR WHATCOM RETAILERS

Dave Gallagher- The Bellingham Herald

Getting students ready for the school year is a major economic driver, and some analysts are expecting increased spending this year.

It's estimated American families will spend an average of $606.40 on clothes, shoes, supplies and electronics related to the start of school, up from $548.72 last year, according to the 2010 Back to School survey, put together by the National Retail Federation.  It's also expected to be higher than 2008, when spending was $594.24 per family.  Total back-to-school spending for students from kindergarten to college is expected to reach $55.1 billion, trailing only the winter holiday shopping season as the biggest retail event.

Even though warm summer days have just begun in Whatcom County, shoppers seem to be gtting an early start on school clothes and supplies.  Dan Sanford, co-owner of Bellingham's Launching Success Learning Store, said he typically sees activity picking up in the last week of July, but more people have been in the store in recent weeks.  Early-bird shoppers include new home-school parents, teachers going overseas and educators switching to a different class.  The store also has doubled its sales in what's known as summer bridge activity books- materials to help students review what they've learned and prepare for the next school year.

 

"The teacher's lament is students forget everything over the summer, so the increase in summer bridge material sales is gratifying to see," said Sanford, who has a background in teaching.

 

The consumers' attitude about back-to-school shopping is often an indicator about how much they'll spend during the holiday shopping season, said NRF President and CEO Matt Shay in a press release accompanying the results of the survey.

 

One factor pointing toward increased spending is pent-up demand, according to the survey.  Many parents have reigned in spending during the recession, but there's only so long before shoes, backpacks and clothes need to be replaced.  However, an increasing number of those surveyed said they plan to do more comparative shopping and spend more on generic products.

Kathy McCrady has noticed the comparative shopping happening in clothing.  McCrady is president of Wee Ones Reruns, a children's clothing and consignment store in the Sunnyland Shopping Center near Trader Joe's.  She said the back-to-school season started in mid-July at her store, with parents bringing in outgrown clothes for consignment as well as making purchases.  There's also been a significant increase in the number of Canadian shoppers, about triple what she's seen in earlier years.

"I think the cooler weather this summer has more people thinking about fall.  They are taking the time now to clean out closets and figure out what they need," said McCrady, who estimates a typical Wee Runs customer spends 30 percent of the clothing budget on new clothes and 70 percent on used apparel.  "So far skinny jeans and longer shirts and dresses are popular with girls this year, while boys are sticking with the classic looks."

Clothing is the biggest part of a family's back-to-school budget, according to the NRF survey.  The average family of school-aged children will spend $225.47 on apparel, while electronics and computer-related products ($181.60) runs second, followed by shoes ($102.93) and school supplies ($96.39).

At the Target store in Bellis Fair mall, back-to-school shopping is under way and seems to be off to a typical start for this time of year, said assistant manager Malori McKenzie.  Back-to-school shopping for supplies tends to peak in August, with Target seeing another rush in September as the colleges and universities in the area get back into session.

"It gets really busy when college students are getting things for their dorm room," McKenzie said.

What continues to grow even during the recession is educational material, said Barbara Sanford, co-owner of Launching Success.  This includes supplemental products students may not be seeing as much of in public schools due to budget cuts, such as art and foreign language materials.

Launching Success has also begun stocking more basic supplies for more one-stop shopping.  The 7-year-old store at 133 Prince Ave. (near Meridian Street) now has more than 30,000 different products in stock.

Source: The Bellingham Herald (http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/07/25/1538807/early-start-could-mean-busy-back.html)

6/29/10

KIDS ROBOT CLASS PLANNED AT LEARNING STORE

Children who enjoy mechanics and LEGO's(R) will have a chance to build robots in an upcoming 5 day workshop at Launching Success Learning Store July 19-23.  The class series, taught by Bricks and Beyond instructors, is a first for Bellingham and brings robotics and computer modeling together in a way suitable for children ages 7-11.

Working in teams, participants invent their own solution by building a Lego model and programming it to perform a certain task.  Cause and effect learning is enhanced by the models which remain tethered to a computer.  Children test and adjust their programming in real time.  Instructors, who have been trained by Gateway, Intl., of Canada, help students reflect on what did and did not work.

Pre-registration is required.  The fee is $100 for the five classes and includes the use of materials and computers during the week.  Any take home materials need to be purchased at Launching Success.  The course is limited to 10 students and is expected to fill quickly.

A follow-up advanced camp is planned for later this summer.  Persons interested in advanced robotics should contact the store for further information.  360-527-2641

5/9/10

DAY EVENT TO HONOR TEACHERS

Area school teachers and homeschooling parents will be honored during Teacher Appreciation Day Saturday, May 15th, at Launching Success Learning Store.  Participants will be treated to free manicures, goodie bags of classroom supplies, vendor coupons and door prizes.  This Whatcom and Skagit County event, held from 10am to 2pm, follows the National Teacher Appreciation week which this year was held the first week of May.

Several distributors of school materials will be on hand at the store to demonstrate new materials being published for the coming fall.  Local creator of mathematic games for teachers to use when students start falling back in their math skills, Bruce Camblin of Fulcrum Math, will be demonstrating the use of his materials.  Publisher representatives for Trend and Teacher Created Resources will offer coupons and answer questions.  Refreshments are being contributed by Costco and Starbucks.

In addition to dozens of door prizes, several grand prizes, which include classroom furnishings by Copernicus, will be awarded by a drawing arranged by Launching Success.

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents and is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.launchingsuccess.com, or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.




5/9/10

LEARNING STORE JOINS TOY GROUP

Local retailer Launching Success Learning Store announced it has recently been selected to join a consortium of educational toy companies, The Good Toy Group.  The consortium, which is based in Rhode Island, assists member companies to pool purchases from vendors and provides electronic specialty catalogs for their member's online sales.

Launching Success is one of only two stores in Washington State that have been approved for membership by this group of 80 outstanding companies nationwide.  According to store owner Barbara Sanford, customers will benefit from lower prices, convenient catalogs in the store and even more items which can be purchased online.  Out of stock toys and games can also be filled more quickly now, Sanford explained.

Sanford was able to conclude a final interview with The Good Toy Group board members at the recent national conference of educational supplies providers, NSSEA, held in Orlando, Florida.

Cartels of this type are not easily managed, but are becoming a key to the ability of individual retailers to compete with national chain stores.  According to Launching Success officals, the Bellingham store has been seeking membership in this type of alliance for several years.

The Good Toy Group partnership is the store's third partnership following its agreement to work with Dallas Pen Corporation for general classroom educational materials in 2004 and with STL Appalachian Distributors to become a regional Home School Headquarters in 2006.

Launching Success Learning Store has Northwest Washington's largest selection of educational materials for teachers, homeschoolers, and parents and is located at 133 Prince Avenue, east of Meridian just one block north of Bakerview.  Find them online at www.launchingsuccess.com or call them at 360-527-2641.

Launching Success Learning Store is a locally owned, independent business not affiliated with a regional or national chain.