Video by Cooper Slough
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Tucked away in a small warehouse just off of Eighth Street, Flatlander Outlet, 614 E. Eighth, opened last month, giving shoppers an opportunity to pick up big-box retail items that normally would not be found in Hays and at a discounted price.
Even with little advertising, besides Facebook and word of mouth, the location has already brought in around 300 customers, despite being open only eight hours a week.
The location, which is an extension of Flatlander Pawn, 2707 Vine, is managed by recent Fort Hays State University graduate Trevor Girard.
“You’re going to find a lot more household goods and stuff for the family as opposed to the pawn shop,” he said.
Items sold at the location come from big box retailers, often sold off in bulk by the larger stores after a return or damage to packaging.
“There is a lot of reasons why it could have been put in the container,” Girard said.
As items come in, they check the items — sometimes the items may be broken or missing something, making the discount even bigger.
But that doesn’t mean they will not stand behind what they sell.
Items are checked during unpacking, checked again before they are sold to a customer and the store has a 30-day return policy in case something is missed.
Once product is sold, new shipments are brought in, sometimes without even knowing what is in them.
“As we turn stuff, we get new shipments in,” Girard said. “Ideally, every week you’re going to find something new.”
Shipments may include a wide variety of goods, including small furniture, household goods, cosmetics and occasionally even small electronics.
While the store may be new, many customers will likely recognize the staff.
“Even though it’s Flatlander Outlet, it’s still Flatlander,” Girard said. “Since it shares the Flatlander name, and I look over both of them, that gives me a pretty wide perspective,” noting the personal connection with customers is a cornerstone of both businesses.
“I want to keep a personal connection with everybody,” he said. “I want to be able to see that customer loyalty and familiarity I have at the pawn shop with people here,”
Girard began working at the pawn shop two years ago and fell in love the business. After his graduation from FHSU, the general manager position opened up and he seized the opportunity to continue working with the shop.
“I really enjoyed it. It’s just a fun atmosphere,” he said.
But when he initially signed on, he had no idea he would be running a much larger staff and two separate locations.
With the new almost 5,000-square-foot outlet, he has the opportunity to give customers more of what they are looking for.
“We have a little bit of everything. There’s a good chance I have it. If I don’t, maybe I’m going to get it. I want to know what you need so I can fulfill it for you,” Girard said. “I want this to be the place that you go to before you go to the big box place.”
The location is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more on the outlet, visit their Facebook page at flatlanderoutlet.com