Valentine's Day. Wam, Bam, KABAM.

Though the Imperial Christmas Shoppe is...well...kind of geared toward any and all things Christmas, it's important to note that our product can also be used for other holidays too!

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, you may find yourself in need of items like traditional or LED light sets, replacement C7 bulbs for your holiday themed nightlights, bright red ribbon, or even red ornament bulbs for the adorable little Valentine's Day tree that's sitting in the corner of your house. If such is the case, then you need to bring yourself to us. The Christmas Shoppe houses all of the aforementioned items, plus so much more.

Check this out, for example! If you'd like to recreate this look, both the Christmas
Shoppe & the Teacher Store could help you do it!
(*Image discovered on Pinterest.com.)

Though the Christmas Shoppe is currently closed (due to inventory) any of our Imperial employees will be more than happy to grab the items you request! Just hop right into the teacher store, tell us what you're looking for and wam, bam, KABAM. Your wish will be granted. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Have a happy Monday and a fabulous week!

TGIF

Thank goodness it's Friday, and thank goodness you're following us

on Twitter, Pinterest (Sorry, we don't have a Google+ account just yet!), Instagram and Facebook.

Oh, you aren't following us on those accounts? No worries. 

Just click on the links below and they'll take you where you need to be.

Have a wonderful, happy, bright and sunshiny weekend!

TWITTER

PINTEREST

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

CHRISTMAS SHOPPE FACEBOOK

5 Fun Activities.

I think it's safe to say that these arctic-like temperatures are even too much for Santa's liking, alas we have no choice but to deal with it. That said, here's a fun list of ideas for you and your family to keep in mind as you're trying to stay sane over the next couple of days:

"Spot It" is a customer favorite. Sold in the Imperial Teacher Store!

(1) Gather everyone up and look through old photo albums. It's amazing how much conversation can ignite over something as simple as a photograph!

(2) Play games. Board games, card games, family-made games. Whatever you choose, take time to put the phones down, step away from the television, and have a fun-filled time with your family! (Also, be sure to check out the Imperial Teacher Store, as we sell numerous games for you to choose from!) 

(3) Take advantage of crafting! Whether you decide to sketch, sculpt, scrapbook, paint or color, there are plenty of ways to stay busy when you're crafting. Don't have the materials? Imperial does! And we're always happy to help you build more ideas! 

(4) Put on a puppet show! This is quite possibly one of the easiest (and most fun!) things to do with your little ones. If you don't have a puppet? Make one. You'll quickly come to find that there may actually be use for that lone sock in your sock drawer. We also have an adorably awesome collection of Melissa & Doug puppets in the teacher store, so be sure to check those out the next time you're in.

(5) Gather together and talk about all of the places you'd like to see in the world. Explain why each place holds a particular meaning to you, and describe what you'd like to see if you ever made it to that location. If your children are small, then take this time to teach them just how big the world is. Plant the desire to learn about other cultures and places within them. Again, Imperial houses a great selection of books on other countries, continents, cultures, etc. 

No matter what you decide to do, keep in mind that you don't have to sit and dwell on the fact that you're stuck inside for yet another day. There are plenty of opportunities to turn an otherwise cold and gloomy day into a day filled with fun and happiness! 

If you have any additional ideas to share, please don't hesitate!

Here's to kicking off a happy week!

Instagram!

Happy Monday, sunbeams. What a week it has been, eh? Blustery, cold temperatures...terrible road conditions. Here's hoping all of you have managed to remain safe, warm and comfortable.

As for what's new with Imperial, I'm here to tell you that we are officially part of yet another social media site. Ladies and gentlemen, we welcome ourselves to INSTAGRAM. 

If you have an account with Instagram, please be sure to help us spread the word and give us a "follow". 

We can be found by searching "Imperial_Stores" 
(Or you can simple click on the link below to go to our page. Just remember to hit "FOLLOW")

As always, we thank you so much for your help and support. 

We couldn't ask for a better group of customers!

Stay warm this week!

A Little Bit O' Christmas Tree History.

You know what's fascinating? Christmas trees. I mean, really. When is the last time you sat down and thought to yourself, "what started this trend of putting a tree in our living room every holiday season?" My guess is that the answer is "never". Or, if you have, it was probably a simple thought that came and went faster than the time it took you to read this sentence. But that's okay! We don't typically ask ourselves this question because the Christmas trees have become a universally understood and traditional part of our culture. We pay money to see them decorated in museums and parks, and we even sing songs about them, but questioning their origin? It's just something we don't think to do.

That said, I've taken the time to do a little research. After perusing several different websites, I found some incredibly interesting information and theories that are definitely worth taking the time to read:

"The most likely theory is that Christmas trees started with medieval plays. Dramas depicting biblical themes began as part of the church's worship, but by the late Middle Ages, they had become rowdy, imaginative performances dominated by laypeople and taking place in the open air. The plays celebrating the Nativity were linked to the story of creation—in part because Christmas Eve was also considered the feast day of Adam and Eve. Thus, as part of the play for that day, the Garden of Eden was symbolized by a "paradise tree" hung with fruit." (www.christianitytoday.com)

"The first first person to bring a Christmas Tree into a house, in the way we know it today, may have been the 16th century German preacher Martin Luther. A story is told that, one night before Christmas, he was walking through the forest and looked up to see the stars shining through the tree branches. It was so beautiful, that he went home and told his children that it reminded him of Jesus, who left the stars of heaven to come to earth at Christmas. Some people say this is the same tree as the 'Riga' tree, but it isn't! The Riga tree originally took place a few decades earlier. Northern Germany and Latvia are neighbors." (www.whychristmas.com)

"Egyptians particularly valued evergreens as a symbol of life's victory over death. They brought green date palm leaves into their homes around the time of the winter solstice." (www.christmastreehistory.net)

"Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs. In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder." (http://www.history.com/topics/history-of-christmas-trees)

I don't know about you, but I had no idea there was so much history behind such a common tradition!

What type of tree are you most fond of using? Real? Artificial? Highland? Blackbear? Why do you choose what you choose? Is there a history behind your choice? We'd love to hear!

And don't forget, we're currently having a big sale on all of our artificial trees, 5' & taller! The sale prices are ranging from 30%-50% so don't miss your chance to take advantage of these great deals!

"Holidays at the Mansion"

During the 2013 holiday season, Imperial Christmas Shoppe volunteered to help decorate a room for Oglebay's annual "Holidays at the Mansion" extravaganza. Oglebay Mansion is a beautiful little piece of history propped right amongst the rolling hills of the Ohio Valley. Add Christmas into that mix, and by George, it's like visiting a magical winter wonderland! That being said, we couldn't help but jump on the opportunity to help build a small piece of the magic that countless people come to enjoy. The room we tackled? The Victorian Parlor Room.

The front windows of the Victorian Parlor Room.

 The Parlor Room is one of the first rooms you see as you walk into the front doors of the mansion. It's lovely, elegant appeal was incredibly fun to work with. Vintage pianos and angelic looking, gold laden decor surround you as step back and take in the room as a whole.We knew instantly that this needed to be taken into consideration while decorating.

 

  

 

After days of traveling back and forth between our shoppe and the mansion, all of our hard work paid off when we were presented with the finished product. We are both pleased and thankful for the overall experience, and would recommend it to anyone who's interested in volunteering for a fun cause. (Especially if you have a love for design!)

Cathy, Alisha and Suzanne pose for a photo-op with the Sunday News Register.

Sparkly Sale!

Happy Saturday!

Well, actually, it's a rather muggy and gross Saturday. BUT! You know what helps clear away those rainy day blues? A good sale. And sparkly, pretty things. Sparkly, pretty things are a universal cure for just about any case of the blues, if you ask me! I mean, c'mon. Who doesn't love the occasional pop of sparkle? And when that pop of sparkle costs 25% less than it would on any other day? Well...psshhhh. Sign me up for 10 of whatever it is!

Lucky for you, we don't make a habit out of selling sparkly things that aren't useful. For example, if you're on the hunt for a sparkling skunk-fur scarf...you would probably have more luck perusing the items on Ebay. (Or maybe the shelves of that sketchy little pawn shop you've rightfully chosen to avoid for the last 9/10's of your life.) If, however, you're looking for some pretty little ornaments to jazz up your Christmas tree next year...you're in luck!

For a limited time only, ALL of our ornaments are on sale for 25% off! If you've been here before, then you know how awesome this deal is. For those of you who have yet to stop by the shoppe, you should know that we have a seemingly endless supply of ornaments. Every shape, size or color that you can imagine...we've got it! 

Our doors are only open until 5 pm this evening, but we will reopen on Monday at 9am! Be sure to stop by and take advantage of this great deal before it's gone! (And for those of you who may actually be on the hunt for a skunk-fur scarf, I wish you the best of luck.)

Hip-Hop-Happy Friday!

Greetings, snowflakes! 

I now invite you to take a deep breath, close your eyes, and smile. Why? Because it's Friday! You've made it through the week! Congratulations. Are you feeling good? Ready to spend the weekend relaxing? Or maybe you plan on catching up with the mountain of laundry that seems to have taken over the once empty corner in your home. Regardless of what you find yourself getting into, we hope your weekend is an enjoyable one!

Here at Imperial, we're all looking forward to the return of Cathy and Philip--the Head Honchos! The Big Cheeses! Our ever-so infallible leaders!

While most people probably think that the excitement of Christmas ends with the final days of the holiday season, in reality, it's only the beginning! Every year, in early January, Cathy and Philip venture south to attend one of the nation's largest Christmas Shows. It is here where they choose the product that will eventually find its way into our showroom for the upcoming holiday season.

Be on the lookout for an upcoming post where I will take the time to talk with Cathy about their trip and also provide you with a special sneak peak of what to expect for the 2014 holiday season!

Are there any particular items you'd like to see in stock this year? Please don't hesitate to share! 

Have a pleasant, happy & sunshiny weekend!

We Show the Lights that Stop You!

Chances are you didn't know that the title of this post was inspired by the song "Lights" which is performed by Ellie Goulding. (Haven't heard of it? Be sure to look it up. It's a great one!) Something else I'm guessing you didn't know (at least, not if you're a newbie in the world of Imperial) is that we have a powerhouse selection of lights! 

We've got it all. Literally. From decorative yard lights to your basic C7 & C9 replacement bulbs, Imperial is the place to go! Don't believe us? Stop by and check out our supply. We promise not to disappoint! 

Welcome!

Greetings, Christmas Lovers!

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop and visit our first official Imperial Christmas Shoppe blog! 

We are still in the beginnings of getting the site up and running, so please hang tight! In the meantime, here's a list of things you can get excited over:

We will be using this blog for:

(1) Sharing photos and videos of fun happenings in the store

(2) Posting news and upcoming events

(3) Announcing the arrival of new product

(4) Contests

(5) Our favorite "Santa and Me" photos

...and much, much more! 

 

Is there anything special you'd like for us to share on here? 

If so, be sure to leave your name and a comment below!

Cheers to an extraordinary 2014!